* Etnika started off as a research project in 1999. * Frans Baldacchino 'Il-Budaj' wrote some of the lyrics for Etnika. * The band has played in more than 15 different countries, its first foreign concert being in Gibraltar in September 2002. * Etnika performed at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival in 2004. * The term Etnikafe' was conceived as a fusion of Maltese folk, jazz and flamenco, the 'fe' coming from the Spanish word for conviction or faith. * The first Etnikafe

They're one of the most sought-after live acts on the island, and with good reason too, because the minute ManaTapu take the stage, they unleash a ball of energy that bounces back and forth off the audience, gathering momentum with each song they play. It's worth mentioning that the band has only released a few songs, all of which can be found on the versatile and rather pleasant Timpana EP. With three gigs lined up over the next fortnight, here are 10 things you didn't know

Mhu ebda sigriet li l-Maltin spiss iżeffnu l-qaddisin fi kliemhom, prattikament f'kull sitwazzjoni li tista' tippreżenta ruħha. Anzi tista' tgħid li hi ħaga ta' kuljum, bħal li kieku kienu joqogħdu bieb ma' bieb jew fl-istess triq tagħna. Min jitlob lil Sant'Antnin għal ħwejjeġ mitlufin u min, waqt xi maltempata, idaħħal lil Santa Barbara fl-istorja u min, meta jrid jagħmel xi emfasi partikolari waqt xi storja li jkun qed jirrakkonta, jimplora l-qaddisin kollha. Hawnhekk fil-

Clocking in at just under 40 minutes, Backbench is the new album from Maltese rock band Footprints, The band's second album to date, its ten tracks present a reinvigorated sound that is markedly more powerful than that of their 2011 debut, 777. To be entirely fair, there's actually always been a rock inclination in Footprints' music, but they've definitely come up with a bigger, harder-hitting sound for this sophomore release. Read the full article on Littlerock.com.mt Footpr

It is no secret that Tribali frontman Peter Paul Galea is forever looking into new sounds and styles related to the world of music. It is also no secret that to do this he loves to travel to exotic destinations where, contrary to the expected norm of enjoying lavish holidays, he chooses to experience local lifestyles and the way these mould and shape the different cultures and traditions he comes face to face with on his travels. One of his most recent trips was a visit to th

Ftit aktar minn xahar ilu, infetħet pagna fuq Facebook b'rabta ma' avveniment bl-isem ta' Kotra li qanqlet interess mhux ħażin fost dawk li jsegwu x-xena tal-mużika lokali, anki jekk, għajr id-data u l-post, ma kienx immedjatament ċar x'tip ta' avveniment dan kien se jkun. Eventwalment bdiet tittella' aktar informazzjoni, biex illum nafu li s-serata, apparti li hi l-ewwel edizzjoni ta' Kotra, se tkun qed tippreżenta kunċert mużikali dedikat għall-kanzunetti bil-Malti, kif uko

Until a year or so ago, Sofar Sounds was pretty much an unknown quantity within the Maltese music scene. Very few, if at all, knew of this international ‘brand’ and its rather enticing and innovative concept of staging secret gigs in intimate, alternative spaces. In less than a year, the situation has changed, and not only has Sofar Sounds become a familiar name among local indie artists, it has effectively infiltrated our music scene. The first local edition was held last ye

A three-piece band from Brighton that has been active for the past seven or so years, Esben & the Witch will be performing in Malta for the second time at the end of this month, thanks to Hairy Amp Promotions. Making waves even before the release of their first album, the band released its third album last year. Crowdfunded, released on the band’s own Nostromo label, produced by music legend Steve Albini and critically acclaimed by all the music mags that matter, latest album

Ħabullabulojb. Kelma fittizja li però fil-qafas tagħha hemm sens ta’ ħbiberija dejjiema. Kelma li hi wkoll l-isem tal-album debuttanti tal-grupp Malti Brodu. Kelma li fi ħdanha tiġbor l-emozzjoni, l-ispirazzjoni u r-realizzazzjoni tal-mużika li wieħed isib fl-istess album, liema mużika issa se tkun ippreżentata f’ambjent live fuq medda ta’ tmien serati; tour li se jinkludi wkoll kunċert ġewwa l-gżira t’Għawdex. Hekk kif il-grupp qed iħabrek bil-preparamenti għal dan it-tour l

Music marathons have been a regular feature on the local music scene for many years, decades even. They will no doubt continue to thrive, as much for the fact that they almost always support a noble cause, as well as because they offer a convenient platform for both established and upcoming bands. Ticking both these boxes, the upcoming Live Music Marathon being held at Ir-Razzett L-Aħmar in Mosta in the weekend of 6-7-8 February is also quite likely the biggest - as in number

Simply titled Songs, the upcoming concert (two actually, on consecutive nights) by Vinny Vella Jr and Nadine Axisa is certainly not the first time the two artists have worked together and, knowing their passion for music and jazz in particular, it probably won't be the last either. Their paths first crossed several years ago when Axisa, until then operating mostly on the festival circuit, started making inroads within the local jazz scene as she discovered a profound affinity

They started out as music fans who just wanted to write songs; any notion of releasing an album being only a dream. Over a decade later, Scottish post-punk band The Twilight Sad has 5 EPs and 4 full-length albums to its name. The latest of these, Nobody Wants To Be Here and Nobody Wants To Leave, has beennamed among theBest Albums of the Year by all the music magazines that matter, and if the success achieved to date seems overwhelming, it’s worth remembering this is just the

Kienet lejla verament memorabbli, dik tat-tnedija tal-album Ħabbullabullojb. Lejla li minnha, bħal ħafna dakinhar, mort lura d-dar b'noti u versi partikolari milli kont smajt għadhom jidwu f'moħħi. Ġie li ġrali hekk wara ċerti kunċerti oħra, biss dakinhar Brodu ġewwa r-Razzett l-Aħmar kienu superlattivi u taw wirja verament awtentika li misset lil kull min kien hemm preżenti. Jista' jkun li kienet l-informalità tal-okkażjoni, jew anki li għadda żmien mhux ħażin mill-aħħar dar

Later this week, US rapper Venomous2000 will hit our shores to give a live performance in Malta as part of his 2014 European Tour. Born and raised in New Jersey, he has been a force for positivity in the hiphop culture for over 15 years, and has performed alongside legends like Slick Rick, Raekwon, Immortal Technique and Jeru The Damaja. He took time out of his busy on-the-road schedule, which has so far taken in France, Sweden and Belgium, to answer a few questions before he

It’s hard to believe it’s less than three years since young Maltese singer-songwriter Dana McKeon moved to London to pursue a career in music. Immersing herself in her work, she has successfully secured a place for herself among the world’s top beatboxers as well as establishing a regular presence within the British capital’s live circuit, where besides gigging she also hosts a weekly open mic night in Camden. MICHAEL BUGEJA recently spoke to DANA MCKEON following the release

It is, without a doubt, a momentous occasion; a milestone event that up until a few years ago, many would have thought impossible to ever happen on an island with a relatively insular mindset. And yet it has, or rather it will, as in a matter of days the first edition of the Malta Tattoo Expo kicks off for a three-day convention that will feature not only local and international tattoo artists, but also live music, re-enactments and more. It’s no secret that tattoos are an ac