We're loving it! Heavy Metal Band Loathe.

There is one sentiment that all Maltese metal fans are used to: surprise. Most people wouldn’t expect Malta, the island of sand, sea, sun and history, to have any metal bands at all. This is as far from the truth as you can get. The fact is, not only is there a strong metal scene locally, it is also one of very high caliber.

Maltese people far removed from the scene express similar feelings when hearing of the hard-working underground bands locally. But perhaps this makes sense, given that the metal scene is, by its very nature, seldom accessible to outsiders, this for myriad reasons, among which is the elitist nature of the music. In layman’s terms, ‘you have to be in it to get it’.

Being a metal fan and/or musician in Malta has both pros and cons. Truth be told, I racked my brain to find the positives, but then, given the advent of the internet and the open communication it brought about, the cons have also dwindled.

The size of the island, and therefore of the population, is both a pro and a con. It is very easy to reach our equivalent of stardom, but after that there is no way the financial success of the band can be nurtured solely on local Euros, simply owing to the limited size of the audience. Even before the ‘days of ease’ of the Internet, Maltese bands were reaching out to Europe and the USA, and the cream of the crop enjoyed considerable success abroad. Suffice it to mention Beheaded and Forsaken, arguably Malta’s biggest metal exports, both of whom have signed deals with prestigious labels and have gathered followings as far as Texas and Japan.

A good friend of mine from the UK confessed on interview that in his view “Maltese metal bands are at least 50% better than their UK counterparts”. Although this is only one man’s opinion, it is an informed one, given that he and his band SLAB played in Malta in April 2009, with a few bands handpicked for their consistency and hard work.

Any ambitious band of any style should not be satisfied with catering to the Maltese alone. Even the largest of audiences here is child’s play compared to abroad, so if the point of playing is to showcase one’s music to as many listeners as possible, abroad we must go. This is a headache to most bands, as there is no support of any kind for bands with touring commitments, especially bands of the metal strain.

This brings me neatly to the issue of acceptance within a culture that is reputed to be close minded at best and primitive if we are to be crude. Although metal bands are not persecuted as others elsewhere are (check out Acrassicauda from Iraq and be thankful for our freedoms), they are hindered from achieving all they can by the lack of venues that accept metal bands, the absence of any financial support from anyone (in Sweden the regional governments pay rent for bands’ practice spaces, Belgian bands have their flights reimbursed if they prove to have played at least one gig in a foreign country) and the lack of belief in them, demonstrated by our post-colonial attitude of treating two-bit cover bands from the UK as gods among mere mortals and granting them headline spots in big events, while Maltese bands provide the ‘special guests’ segment, and are normally not even paid for their effort.

Furthermore, apart from a few notable deviants such as this site, Toni Sant’s MMI podcast and Michael Bugeja’s Sunday Times column, metal bands are largely ignored by all segments of the media, or relegated to the ‘special interest’ segments, which are the equivalent of a hamster on water skis.

This is not to say it all doom and gloom. I for one firmly believe in the talents and hard work of some Maltese bands (I won’t say all bands), in particular those with not only the technical nous in a musical sense, but also with the good sense and creativity to turn adversity around and into their favour. As I once read, “Artists don’t have to suffer. Clueless no-talent dumb-f..ks who call themselves artists have to suffer!”

Mark Debono is an online marketing minion and plays bass for Loathe, a newly-signed metal band. Mark has toured the UK extensively with Loathe and was interviewed by the UK’s largest rock and metal radio, Kerrang, while on tour In November 2009. For more on Loathe, check the website, join them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

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Clubs, pubs or posh nosh: there's a mix of options for New Year's in Malta

Around ten years ago, I used to know well in advance where I was going to party the night away on New Year’s Eve in Malta. The venue was always some ‘official’ place – club, hotel, old palazzo that’s used the rest of the year for weddings – and so on. The ticket, always relatively extortionate, would have been bought a month or more before – well, I didn’t want to miss the much vaunted event!

Now, New Year’s Eve is much more likely to find me at some private house party that only needs dressing up for and taking a bottle to. It will be crowded, heaving, hot and a feast of friends I do know rather than an evening of rubbing shoulders with people I don’t. I have no doubt that add another decade or so and I’ll be doing what I was astonished my parents could do – and that is ‘having a quiet evening in toasting New Year with a small nip of something!’.

I haven’t quite worked out if New Year’s Eve arrangements are age determined, but it’s certainly a case of each to his own taste. And there’s plenty of choice around in Malta this year to cater for everyone – from those with young kids (take them with you in buggy to Valletta Waterfront for instance), adolescents (who might just make it to a mini-bus for the 4am run home after celebrating in their regular Paceville bar) to the 20- to 30-somethings who follow their top DJ to a ticketed venue, and the 40-something pluses who indulge with mega-course, sit-down meals in palazzo splendour.

What to do where
We’ve done a round-up in our What’s On section of some of the main NYE events this year. Choose from hotels to clubs and from dinners to dance. There’s only one thing I find with each passing New Year’s Eve – I am less decided about what to do till the last minute. With a bit of luck, if more people are like me, there’ll still be tickets for most events!

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Carrie Haber: all dressed up and going places

The first time I saw Carrie Haber play live was in Merchant Street, during Notte Bianca in 2008. I was just gobsmacked by the energy, the mastery of the piano and the range of that voice. Fast forward to this year and Carrie is now based in London, living her dream, doing what she was born to do. We caught up with her as she prepares for Teatru Unplugged at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta on 27, 28 & 29 November.

When did you know you were musical?
Before I even started playing the piano I had dreams of becoming a ballerina. I used to dance all the time in my living room. This was before I’d even begun going to school. I also remember singing at every birthday party I went to. So I was rather young when people noticed my musicality. And I only realised how special that was when they started to tell me – otherwise I thought everyone could sing!

When did you start to play the piano?
Well, at around age four, my mum gave me a choice. I could either go to my grandmother for piano lessons, or I could go for ballet lessons. It didn’t even take me a second to decide. I wanted ballet lessons! So of course, my mum sent me to piano lessons haha. And I don’t regret it one bit – although I cry every time I watch a ballet. I always wish it were me dancing on that stage.

Who are your mentors in life?
My mum and my grandmother have been mentors for much of my life. They started me off and they influence every move I make. However, lately I’ve also had the help of the wonderful Tony Moore in London who advises me and encourages me constantly. I also have a vocal mentor, and that’s my amazing teacher Line Hilton!

What music did you listen to as a child?
Mainly whatever was on the radio and lots and lots of classical piano music – I never really paid much attention to the radio charts until I was around 11. And by that time I had already started writing my own music. I remember the first CDs I’d ever bought were The Corrs and Hanson. I was so excited to have it! It was their use of harmonies that I found really inspiring. I also loved the fact that they were brothers and sisters. In fact I was hoping my brothers would take up an instrument so that we could form our own band. I had it all planned. Andrew, my youngest brother, would play the drums and Steven, the middle of the 3, would play guitar and sing harmonies. It would have been perfect! Alas that never came to pass.

Who are your major influences in music now?
Well there are quite a few. I tend to look for vocal texture and versatility in the artists I listen to. That’s why I am into Tori Amos, the Dresden Dolls, Gwen Stefani, Goldfrapp, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Imogen Heap, Elisa and Regina Spektor just to name a few.

Do you get bugged when people say you’re Malta’s answer to Tori Amos?
Not at all! I understand that people need to make that association in order to relate to my music. And I am honoured to be compared to an artist I hold in such high esteem. Having said that I know my music to be different to hers in many ways, for example, her piano accompaniments tend to be more jazz oriented, whereas mine are more classical. Also, our song structures are very different. In fact, the only thing that makes such a comparison valid is the fact that I tend to use my higher register in a classical way making the texture of our voices sound rather similar. But that’s valid enough for me

How difficult is it to get up and leave the island to follow your dreams in the UK? How did you do it?
Well it would be a lie to say that it is easy. But I have also been very lucky to have help. Tony Moore had been encouraging me for months to go to London for a week here and there and perform at his venues. So I finally took up his offer. I went once for a week, and then again a couple of months later. I then went for a whole month. By then I had decided that I needed to move to London. A month later I had moved! I acted on instinct and even though it was scary, I know that I made the right decision.

I kept asking myself this question: How would I feel in 5 years time knowing that I didn’t take this chance? If I was ok with it, then I would have stayed in Malta. But I wasn’t ok with it. I would have felt guilty and empty knowing that I missed out on an opportunity like that. My life would have been incomplete. And that’s not to say that there weren’t sacrifices to be made, but by comparison, those sacrifices were worth making.

Who are the people who helped you on your journey to where you are now?
There have been many people that eventually led me to this point in my journey. Starting from my mum to my grandmother, my old school friends who’d come to my house every week to listen to some new songs together with my brothers and my dad, Andie Coppini with whom I had my very first studio experience, OzzyLino who believed in me and introduced me to Tom Nash, who in turn introduced me to David Vella and Line Hilton, various musicians and ex-boyfriends along the way and finally Tony Moore. It’s a chain. One person leads to another. But every single person is important in my musical development.

Tell me about your first gig in the UK. Your best one. Your strangest one. Your latest one. The one you’re looking forward to, most.
My first UK gig was very interesting actually. I arrived at Luton Airport and Tony Moore picked me up. He had been invited to perform on a TV programme which was being filmed in Birmingham so I went with him. Once there, the host invited me to perform on the programme too and so my first performance in London was on SKY tv! Straight after that Tony had an interview to give, so again I followed and guess who was being interviewed? None other than Duran Duran! We then drove straight to the next venue in London where I changed in the girls’ toilet for the first of many gigs at the Regal Room. It was an amazing journey already and I had barely been in London 24 hours!

My best gig however is hard to choose. There are a number of them. There was the fundraising event which was held at The Bedford in London in which I was one of many acts including The Feeling. Newton Faulkner was in the audience too! Then there was that time I performed at a school in Copenhagen for around 600 kids! That was awesome! And of course there’s the performance I gave in LA which I enjoyed thoroughly and which lead to many good things.

My strangest and latest gig go hand in hand. Last Monday I performed for an hour to an online audience. There was no one in the room apart from two friends because it was 3pm in the afternoon and everyone was at work. The event was called SOS Rainforest Second Life Concert, supported by Prince Charles. So I was basically performing to a camera which linked to a laptop making it possible for people all around the world to watch! So I had another laptop on the grand piano I was playing and my online audience would send me messages throughout the set. It was strange but pretty awesome!

The next gig which I’m really looking forward to has to be Teatru Unplugged which is being held at the Manoel Theatre in Malta on the 27/28/29 of November!

What’s your favourite place in Malta?
In terms of music venues I’d definitely say the Manoel Theatre. But my favourite hide out is Legligin which is a little wine bar on the street parallel to the Manoel. The owner is so nice and his food is to die for!!

What advice would you give others aspiring to make a career out of music?
I can only speak from my own experience. If your heart isn’t in it, then don’t bother. But if you can’t imagine your life without music, then give it your all! If you love music but it’s not a priority, hold on to it and use it as a therapy to let out your emotions. It’s an excellent release!

The video for ‘Me Oh My’ is a definite departure from your other material. Where was it filmed? Who was involved?
Yes in fact coming to London has allowed me to really express myself. My performance has become a lot bolder and much more theatrical. So “Me Oh My” being such an expressive song was the perfect choice for my first music video. I wanted to let people know that they can no longer expect the obvious from me.
The video was filmed in my grandparents’ hall. The piano is in fact my grandmother’s. Nick Morales and Keith Falzon both filmed and edited the video. Kirsten Holland did my make up, with the help of a friend of mine, Lisa Schembri. HairFactory was kind enough to sponsor me and Sara Falzon volunteered to come and take some pictures as we were filming. My brother Andrew was also on set helping with the music. And what’s more, I was also sponsored by Amrita (foot care and wellness centre) where I got a lovely massage before the shoot. All in all we were a great team!!

What are you working on, right now?
I am writing a lot of songs these days. I’ve been asked to co-write someone’s album here in London. And I am also co-writing with a teenage girl who I believe has enormous potential. On top of that I’ve co-written for Maltese singer Brooke and I am also working on my own material. I will be living out of a suitcase in December since I am flying from London, to Malta at least 3 times and once to Copenhagen in between. I have also been making cards and small drawings which are associated with my musical style. And underneath all of that I am also giving performance workshops in London, voice lessons in London and Malta, and piano lessons in London. Who said being a musician is easy?!

What should we have asked you?
Where can we buy your EP? – go to www.indiestore.com or come to Teatru Unplugged on the 27/28/29 of November where I will be selling hard copies for just a fiver. Meanwhile, if you want to know what the EP sounds like go have a listen on www.myspace.com/carrieonsinging and check out the music video!

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Man of many talents. Drummer, producer, DJ all wrapped up in one.

I first got to know Toby when he played drums in my brother’s metal band. Fast forward some eleven years, and Toby is now a DJ, artist and producer. I caught up with him to talk about the journey he’s made.

What was your favourite record as a child?

I was always surrounded by music. My Dad used to constantly play vinyl records on his LP player – The Police, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons, Hot Chocolate and Boney M. The two songs which really take me back in time whenever I hear them are Mike Oldfield’s ‘Moonlight Shadow’ and Kate Bush’s ‘Running up that Hill’. I guess I took the emotion of Mike, Kate and Alan and mixed them with beats ‘n bass lines from Boney M and Hot Chocolate!

How did you get into dance music?

I played in bands from a really early age. I tried all instruments – bass, lead guitar, keyboards and vocals – but the one I stuck to longest was drums. I love the feeling of lightness after a great drumming session, you really get to bash out all your daily problems. I still do to this day, though some problems take more of a bashing than others. Although I used to play with rock bands, I was always listening to chillout and electronica – a daily dose of Enigma, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons and Tangerine Dream. Trust me, you had to, after playing four hours of Metallica covers! Then I started getting into a lot of ambient and Goah Trance and attending Dance and Electronic Events. After that there was no turning back!

Do you consider yourself a musician or a DJ? What’s the difference, in the creative process?

I guess I am both. There is a huge difference between a DJ and a musician. Although it takes great skill to become a good DJ, there is no comparison with being able to play an instrument well. When you are playing, you are creating something that is totally yours; when you are DJing, you are manipulating songs that have already been created by someone else. Unless they are your own work, in which case it’s a very different story. There is nothing quite like playing the instruments to create your own production and then spinning that same track in a club at night!

What’s been the highlight of your career till now?

Signing my publishing deal with EMI UK is right up there, as is watching a Remix I produced climb its way to number 9 in the UK Club charts. Quite a great feeling, but performing to over 10,000 people at festivals is just as satisfying. Nothing really beats performing my own productions with guest artists I have worked with, to 2,500 friends and fans at my ‘Toby live in Concert’ gigs!

Who do you admire?

My parents for lovingly staying together all these years, through thick and thin, and putting up with three boys and me and my mishaps. In music, it’s every artist, musician or DJ who manages to remain level-headed irrespective of success – I just cannot stand arrogance. I admire people who can give selflessly, without expecting something in return.

What’s your idea of a perfect day?

Morning: working in the studio producing for upcoming talent. Afternoon: a dive in Comino’s Santa Marija caves. Evening: Dinner by the sea in Gozo followed by clubbing anywhere to Trance and Electronica.

Do you think a small island like Malta can become a feature on the global dance calendar?

Definitely. We already have a beautiful location and top artists, bands and DJs hitting our shores. We just need to get smarter at marketing the island in in the right way, lengthening the closure time for clubs, events and outdoor festivals (or removing it altogether). Places such as Ibiza and Aia Napa have already shown how the model can work, spinning an entirely new tourism sector in the process.

Beer, wine or fruit juice?

Morning – juice, beer in the afternoon and wine in the evening. Having said that, if there was more of the afternoon and evening going on, it will probably be rounds of morning all day!

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently creating and producing songs for some really great talents! I love helping people work their way up from the very start. I’ve got around fourteen productions in the pipe line – both local and foreign, upcoming and established artists. I’m also putting together my next ‘Toby Live in Concert’

You always seem to collaborate with vocalists. And you still have your own unique sound.

I am always looking for new sounds, to stay updated with the freshest noise out there. I’m constantly looking for new vocalists, so my style does tend to vary from time to time. It’s all about experimentation. I’d get bored if I were always to produce the same genre. Producing for other people means I get to create all types of music, from classical to R’nB, house, trance and all styles of electronica, to recording rock bands and creating scores and soundtracks for movies and documentaries.

What should we have asked you?

How do you feel about the BMA Nomination you have just received for your song with Niki Gravino ‘Cover your eyes’? It’s always a great feeling to be nominated and appreciated for the work you do. I produced the song and the video was filmed in Germany by acclaimed director Wolfgang Raach, featuring world-renowned stunt man Mike Moller. Can I put in a plug? People can vote for the song by sending an sms with the text ‘TOBY’ to 5061 5302 by the 7th December.

More on Toby on MySpace, YouTube, his website and Facebook. Toby’s latest Album ‘DIGI KINDA LIFE’ available at all Exotique and D’Amato Record shops & www.di-ve.com.

Picture: David P Attard

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Paceville anyone? No? Then what better than vino and friends in Malta's growing number of wine bars

Ever since Facebook became a part of our lives, it has become our primary source of reference to what to do on a Friday or Saturday night out. This, along with copious SMS adverts, radio spots, and the word on the ground in the Maltese social scene, generally point to the best night outs being at bigger, more advertised social events.

Most people will often go to a certain club or bar just because ‘people’ are going (i.e. acquaintances within the same social circle who you would walk past on the street but who, on the other hand, could contribute to a good ‘night out’ out given their ‘attending’ status indicated on Facebook). Of course, there could be other motives that draw crowds to a particular place, such as cheap drinks and more often than not, cheesy radio-friendly music. Not your thing? Then find out…

What do the rest of us do?
If you take a look around, there are loads of different events that contribute to a good, if not better, night out. The popularity of such events isn’t necessarily assessed by the people who attend, but by the level of satisfaction attained by the people that do actually attend.

Let’s face it, Malta is small, so if you look hard enough you’re bound to find something that although unappealing to the general public, is ten times as fun. Here are some clues and tips on what to look for…

First of all, look as far away as possible from Paceville.
If you don’t want to waste your Friday/Saturday night looking for parking or faced by throngs of teenagers binge-drinking on streets, Paceville is definitely not the place for you. A walk through the streets of Valletta, for instance, will uncover quite a number of quaint little spots advertising jazz nights or acoustic gigs.

For the older crowd, the last few years has seen the surge of quite a few wine bars in Malta, often found in Valletta, or in ‘faraway’ old towns; some of the most popular are in Mdina, Balzan, Attard and Birgu, and are venues for a good night whether you’re spending it with a few friends over a few bottles of wine with accompanying cheese and meat platters, or as a quick getaway with your loved one.

For a younger crowd that have still not tucked away their dancing shoes but can’t face the commercialism found in major bars in Paceville, there are plenty of alternatives. Summer months give non-Paceville goers plenty of options, although in winter you may have to look around a bit and be in the know about gigs. However, whether it’s reggae, electronic music, or techno that you like to follow, there are people out there who strive to make it happen. Whether you prefer donning your mum’s hippie clothes for a reggae party to covering your face in face paint for a rave somewhere remote, there’s something out there for everyone.

And what’s more, Maltese people can make good music. There are plenty of live gigs every weekend. Even though the more popular bands are the ones the general public often talks about (Winter Moods, Ira Losco etc), there are other small bands and acts out there that are just as good, often playing in smaller bars setting the backdrop for a more intimate setting.

A good point of reference, as much as we love to hate it, always remains Facebook. Do your research well, add a few influential people, and you’ve a recipe for fun to guide you through the ‘colder’ Maltese nights.

Photo: Therese Debono

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For many, a night in Paceville is just a blur

Love it, hate it, wait eagerly to go there weekends, or wince at the thought of it, we all have a reaction to Paceville (pronounced ‘parch-i-ville’) Routinely billed as the heart of Malta’s nightlife, it’s either the place to be seen, or a place to avoid, depending largely on your age and taste in night life. It has everything from clubs to a casino, and an atmosphere ranging from tacky to cool.

Want to know why people go to Paceville? We give you the raw, (almost) unedited viewpoints of people in the know. Here, the 15 – 25 year olds give their verdict. Older ages in future articles. Note: to 16-25s, Paceville is “PV’ (text lingo).

Robyn (18)
1. Fun to meet friends
2. Out of habit
3. Convenient, because everything is close together
4. Like listening to music
5. To meet new people, but hate that there are so many people (editor’s. note: last point may contradict the earlier one).

C.P (16)
1. When I go there, I get a later (parental) curfew.
2. I love ‘Remedy’ (bar with live music)

J.Lo (16) goes to PV to:
1. Listen to the music he likes
2. Socialise with different people
3. To drink
4. To smoke…(editor’s note: …not sure what though).

Charlie (21) says people go to PV to:
1. Get wasted
2. Meet the same people over and over again. No interesting conversations take place there.. just useless, drunken chat.
3. Pull anything of the opposite sex
4. Because ‘there is nothing better to do’.
5. The weekend shows up and people simply feel like clubbing. There are still many who love the place because of that.

(Afterthought): It’s still very cheap to go out (especially if you’re a girl). There are no entrance fees to many of the clubs. It’s drawing ever younger people in: 14 year-olds go there supposedly accompanying their elder siblings.. and end up getting wasted themselves. By the time you get to 21, you’ve done it all and want to move on. Also, if you’ve done any serious travel yourself, you know that there is life beyond Paceville.

What and where is Paceville?

It’s a compact, urban peninsula between St George’s Bay and Spinola Bay and facing the inland residential area of Swieqi. It also has a large number of five-star hotels on its fringes. The St George’s Bay (newly-made) beach is considered Paceville’s local beach. Paceville life centres on Dragonara Road, Wilga Street, St. Georges Road and St. Rita Steps where clubs, bars, restaurants, snack outlets, discos and more spill out into paved streets. It isn’t that attractive a place by day, but at night, it’s like Malta’s mini version of London’s Soho, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus – loud, brash and in your face.

Facilities: police are present; taxi ranks in main square; Wembley’s, a well-known taxi & mini-bus firm, is just five minutes walk from central Paceville. Minibus services to most outlying towns and villages operate till the early hours. Taxi sharing also possible.

How to get there:

Buses 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 662, 667 and 671 all pass very frequently through St. Julian’s (stops on main road on fringes of Paceville) from 5.30 till 11.00pm.

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OK, so the dark nights are beckoning, but don’t put those sunglasses away yet. Because you’ll need them next Saturday, 24 October for that unique clubbing concept, Sunglasses at Night, this time at Gianpula (mainroom).

Following the response to the last Sunglasses at Night, organisers Fabric have opted for a bigger venue to make sure, as they put it, “nobody is disappointed”. And with the improved line-up, with the likes of Duncan F, Ziggy, Alvin Gee, and Sub Sonic, there’s every chance you won’t be. But, it’s popular and, on past form, is prone to sell-out. So be forewarned.

A bit of history about Fabric, for those not in the know: Fabric has been delivering events ranging from weekly nights to one-off events both in and outside Paceville. Its lastest innovation, the Sunglasses at Night concept, was born in March 2009 at Poxxbar and packed the newly-opened Marrakech in early July.

Tickets:

10 euro from:

Chilli – The Plaza, Sliema
Chilli – Baystreet
Ryan’s Pub – St. Julians
KSU – On Campus

Or phone: 99479121 or 99459184
Dress Code – Strictly sunglasses!
Doors Open: 22.00.

‘WIN TICKETS’ COMPETITION

in association with Malta Inside Out
The first five to answer this question correctly will each receive a complimentary ticket to the forthcoming Sunglasses at Night event:

Q: When and where is Sunglasses at Night 3 going to be held?

How to Enter: email contact@maltainsideout.com with your answer, giving us your full name and mobile contact number. Winners will be contacted by Fabric directly.

Further Information, on the event or competition, from:
email info@fabricpromo.com
website: www.fabricpromo.com
See also, Fabric on Facebook

For a taster, see:

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The Gaslamp Killer. Murdering dance floors worldwide.

Ever since I discovered SoundCloud, much of the content for this site has been developed against a backdrop of down beats, electronica, ambient and other weird and wonderful music.

And it doesn’t get much more weird and wonderful than Los Angeles-based beatsmith and DJ, William Benjamin Bensussen a.k.a. the Gaslamp Killer, who plays the Escape Club next Saturday. Rarely has a DJ been attributed with so many adjectives – though many converge around ‘wild, dangerous and brilliant.’ His debut EP, appropriately titled My Troubled Mind, has been described as ‘haunted, cinematic music that unhinges the listener, approaching a surreal dissociation and restoration of the self’.

What is a cert is that the Gaslamp killer is murdering dance floors across the globe with a restless cocktail of dubstep, trip-hop, hip-hop, freak psychedelia, funk, jazz and everything in between. There is really nothing very conventional about this man. What really differentiates him from other DJs is an extensive knowledge of psychedelic rock, demonic bass-heavy Hip-Hop, Middle-Eastern/ Indian rare grooves, and ear-piercing helicopter breaks. The freak-out energy he generates through crowds has become a trade mark of his sets around the world.

Venue: the Escape Club in St. George’s bay. Doors open on Saturday at 10pm. Tickets at Euros 14 each can be reserved via email to pinkpube1@yahoo.com or just show up at the door. The evening includes sets from local DJs Danjeli (Live), Owen Jay, A.I. Big Dog Foundation, Synthact and Ezzy. Expect the Gaslamp Killer behind the decks around 1am.

And here is a taster of what you can expect next Saturday. Prepare to move out of your comfort zone.

The Gaslamp Killer, Live @ The Drake, Sept 13 2009. Toronto. from mymanhenri on Vimeo.

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Wine bar in eroding Fort. Birgu reborn in the 21st century.

It’s that time of year for festivals. Last weekend was Valletta’s show with its Notte Bianca; this weekend we cross Grand Harbour for the Birgu Festival (Vittoriosa) which runs 9-11 October. Autumn is for festivals what summer is for festas. Yes, there’s a difference – in brief, festas are religious in origin; festivals are more about pageantry and celebrating a locality’s uniqueness, be it in history, crafts, food, traditions or whatever.

The BirguFest isn’t something just dreamed up. It’s a fixed event now, having been around on and off since 1990. For those interested in a blow-by-blow account of how it became one of Malta’s best loved, most attended and colourful festivals, there’s a full history of it on the Birgu Local Council website. So, we’ll keep the background short…

Why the BirguFest?

To quote the local council, “BirguFest is an extravaganza highlighting Birgu’s glorious past and celebrating Malta’s oldest maritime city”. Today, people have a far better understanding of the importance of Birgu in Malta’s history – its landmark, Fort St Angelo, saw off the Saracen’s Great Siege of Malta in 1565. But, until the early ’90s, most of the Three Cities area, including Birgu, was somewhat in the doldrums; run-down, neglected, off the tourist trail and associated with industrial Malta (dockyards). The Birgu festival was born in part from the need to focus attention on the area’s amazing wealth of heritage and to heighten awareness of what the city has to offer locals and visitors. And it has done just that, most successfully; thanks also to an energetic Birgu mayor.

Highlights of BirguFest 2009

The programme is extensive with open-air events, historical reenactments, street theatre, concerts (everything from choral to traditional and ethnic-inspired music), state museums and palaces open to the public beyond regular hours, and historical street scenes replete with hawkers of traditional Maltese foods.

Each day’s programme starts between 09.00 – 09.30 and runs till the early hours. Given the expected crowds, official parking is being organised (so follow the signs – see the Birgu Council website for info). There is lot to entertain families, with kids no doubt appreciating the reenactments that include scenes from the time of the Great Siege, such as life in the Dominican Priory, the Turks discussing battle plans, and the reaction of poor, local folk to impending invasion!

Don’t miss!

Tribali – Malta’s anarchic, ethnically-inspired band has a huge following, so don’t miss this last chance to see them in 2009. The concert is at the Birgu Bastions in Couvre Portre, which will be candlelit for the occasion. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are 12 Euros (in advance), 17 Euros at the door and 25 Euros for VIP tickets which include an after part at D Centre in Birgu. Tickets on sale at all Puma shops or D’Centre in Birgu, or see: www.jaggedhouse.com. For more information call ticket hotline 99017470 or email: dcentrebirgu@gmail.com.

‘Birgu by Candlelight’, on Saturday 10th, 18.30 onwards, promises to be a magical and atmospheric event. Streets are lit as they would have been before electric lights, thanks to Vittoriosa residents doing their bit and positioning candles and lanterns everywhere they can.

The Jackson Pipe Band, from 19.30 on Saturday in various streets. The Jackson family band plays traditional Maltese instruments including a kind of bagpipe. There is a remarkable story behind this family group.

Info

Full programme and background, see: http://www.birgu.gov.mt

Photo: Andrew Galea Debono

Postscript: Birgu or Vittoriosa? Birgu is the local name for the city which the knights named Citta’ Vittoriosa after its role in the victorious defeat of the Saracens at the 1565 Great Siege.

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Notte Bianca: bringing Valletta nights to life, at least once a year

“Notte Bianca” comes from Italian and means White Night. Lately, it’s become synonymous with an initiative of many countries around the world. For one night, a city literally comes to life at night in an explosion of activities till the early hours.

The first “Notte Bianca” in Malta took place in 2006 in Valletta, and is one of the events of the year. In a capital city that, unlike others, tends to go quiet at night – Notte Bianca is the catalyst for all-night activities around the fortified city. Shops, churches and museums remain open till late. And every corner teems with music, opera, poetry readings, exhibitions, dance, street theatre and more. This year, the programme extends to the Valletta Waterfront, and also introduces Corto Maltese to the Maltese audience.

The extensive programme of events is downloadable from the dedicated website. What’s great fun about Notte Bianca is that the compact nature of Valletta means that you can catch a lot of what’s going on if you’re prepared to keep walking. Bring comfortable shoes and you can go from, say, an accordion band to a fashion show in Castille Place to the Rifffs in Freedom Square via an art exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Or take the kids to Hastings Garden for puppet theatre and animation and then head off to the Old Opera House for medieval re-enactments. And whenever you need to recharge your batteries, there are watering holes and food to be found in every street corner.

Notte Bianca is an opportunity to see Valletta like we rarely see it at night: vibrant, electric and with the doors of its cafes, restaurants, museums, palaces and courtyards open to kids of all ages.

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