They're lively, colourful, vibrant and a whole lot of fun! They've also just released a brand new single by the name of Mur Imma Mur. Yes indeed, as the summer vibe starts to edge ever closer, ManaTapu have resurfaced with a new song that pretty much encapsulates the spirit of summer within its breezy melody! "We will start the Tuatara journey with a song that captures the summer vibes here on this island", Pupachile, one the band's vocalists explained, adding that the acco

One World is the title of the debut album from Pon Di Corner, a Malta-based musical collective featuring artists with roots in three continents but, as they like to point out all from the same planet! They all have at least three things in common; a love for music, a positive vibe and they all reside in Malta. The group was recently invited to Michael Bugeja's weekly radio show ROCKNA on Radio 101, to talk about their history, their music and their upcoming Malta tour which

The album itself is yet to come, scheduled for release on April 20, but Malta-based international act Pon Di Corner, fresh from playing last week's Marleyfest, have just rolled out the title track online, giving us a small taste of a record that promises to bring on the noise and spread the love. The song One World is the fruit of a collaboration with Jamaica-based Bajan singer Vanessa Bongo, whom Pon di Corner got together with about two summers ago when the singer was on th

After seven years of digital releases, netlabel Dubkey has put out its first vinyl release, and it's by label owner Manwel T himself. The 7" single, titled Freedom Stepper, will surely go down well with all reggae/dub vinyl afficionados, as well as the numerous Dubkey followers who have been waiting for so long to get their hands on a Dubkey vinyl release. The A-side is a catchy instrumental stepper that follow in the steps of Manwel T's Cosmic album, offering up unrelenti

UK reggae artist Kelvin Grant was interviewed by Michael Bugeja on the Monday night edition of Radio 101's Fuzzbox show on September 5, 2016. in connection with his upcoming album, Grant is in Malta in connection with a video shoot for his next single. He will be performing alongside Pokyman & Lukie M on September 17 at JamRock's event at Surfside in Sliema (more details here) and again on September 18 with Lubay at Zion's Reggae Sunday Special (more details here). The Fuzzbo

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

With a line-up boasting more than 50 acts spread all over three main areas (four if one counts the Greek Theatre), it's no secret that the Earth Garden Festival has grown in leaps and bounds since its first edition was staged almost a decade ago. The upside of this is a wider spectrum of artists on offer with a broader appeal that has certainly been essential in boosting bigger attendances. The downside of course is that, there being simultaneous schedules, one can never actu

Following a string of successful events that have firmly placed them on Malta’s cultural map, the lads at Bass Culture are putting the final touches to their next event. Amplify Bass Fest will take place at Ta’ Fra Ben in Qawra on Sunday, June 28, the eve of a public holiday and, as its tagline clearly states, it will be a massive feast of bass that boasts what is possibly the team’s biggest line-up to date, truly making it the vibration of the nation. A collaborative effort

A quick peek at the Dubkey.com website will reveal the locally-based internet label is now on its 20th release; Don Goliath's Calling on Jah compilation being the latest full-length release to be given away as a free download. Label founder and owner Manwel T has been long-involved in the reggae and dub scene, not only as a radio DJ but more prominently for his remixes of other artists' work. Eight years on from his first remix (and five since he set up Dubkey), Manwel T has

This summer's first release by Maltese internet-based record label Dubkey is the self-titled debut outing from Three Little Birds. Featuring 12 tracks, all of them instrumental, the album traces Belgian artist Ewoud Vandenberghen first steps as a dub/steppers artist. The end result is an enticing collection of music brimming with infectious melodies propelled by inventive drum beats, solid bass lines and memorable synth hooks. Three Little Birds was formed in 2012 by Vandenbe

“Ska music engages everyone, especially in a live environment”, Ivan Borg tells me a couple of minutes before we take a seat for an advance listen of The Rifffs’ new album, Can’t stop the people. The young bass player should know; after all he’s played countless gigs, among them some significant ones abroad too with this band ever since stepping into original bassist Cook’s shoes some years ago. “A lot of people mistakenly think Ska is just about the guitar upstroke, but ther