#ska

Michael Bugeja

May 14, 2016
2 min

THE RIFFFS: BAD SEED, GREAT MUSIC

Some people will forever think of the legendary Dance Music for the 80's Depression single at the slightest mention of The Rifffs. Despite a lengthy hiatus that lasted almost two decades however, there's no denying the band has come a long way since regrouping in 2006. With two acclaimed albums under their belt and their legacy in Maltese musical history ensured, The Rifffs have been staking their claim internationally these past few years, giving live performances in various

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Michael Bugeja

Aug 2, 2015
3 min

GHAXAQ FESTIVAL: HOT AUGUST NIGHTS

The current heatwave may drain the energy levels of most people but not, it seems, of the team behind the Ghaxaq Music Festival, who have been working relentlessly as the start of the 2015 edition draws closer. In similar fashion to last year's edition, the festival will be a 3-day affair, kicking off this Wednesday with a line-up that brings together an interesting mix of genres and sounds. The opening night will feature Infinite Loop, certainly one of Malta’s top upcoming

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Michael Bugeja

Jul 27, 2015
5 min

HERE COMES THE SUN!

'They came, they saw, they conquered' is probably the best way to sum up last year's Malta visit by Australian band Caravana Sun. Their performances at Earth Garden were not only energized but also truly captivating. Proof of this is the incredible vibe the band whipped up with its spirited performances and infectious songs. It is an effective combination that they've practically perfected thanks to their constantly busy schedule of live performances back home in Australia as

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10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MANATAPU

Michael Bugeja

Jul 21, 2015
4 min

10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MANATAPU

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

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EARTH GARDEN 2015: SO MANY ACTS, SO LITTLE TIME

Michael Bugeja

Jun 22, 2015
3 min

EARTH GARDEN 2015: SO MANY ACTS, SO LITTLE TIME

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

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MAY THE FOURS BE WITH YOU! ROCK THE SOUTH RETURNS

Michael Bugeja

Mar 3, 2015
3 min

MAY THE FOURS BE WITH YOU! ROCK THE SOUTH RETURNS

Four – that’s the magic number behind this year’s Rock the South festival! That’s four as in this will be the fourth edition of this annual gathering at Zion in Marsascala, which has this year been expanded to a four-day event (9-12 April) and will feature more than 44 acts, among them four foreign acts. The live acts will be performing alternately on two stages, further to which, for the first time since the festival was launched, there will also be a Silent Disco with Hedon

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THE RIFFFS ROCK STEADY AT RYAN'S THIS THURSDAY

Michael Bugeja

Feb 22, 2015
2 min

THE RIFFFS ROCK STEADY AT RYAN'S THIS THURSDAY

It may have been released in the early 80s, but there’s no denying that the lyrical substance of The Rifffs’ Ska evergreen Dance music for the 80’s depression, by far one of the most influential songs to be recorded by a Maltese band, still holds water today, surpassed only by the song’s popularity, instant familiarity and immediate spark whenever and wherever it is played. Indeed its lasting appeal was certainly a catalyst in bringing the band back to life in the mid-00s, si

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Michael Bugeja

Jul 7, 2014
2 min

SWAG FEATURE: MY ESSENTIAL ALBUMS BY MICHAEL BUGEJA

My friend Colin Fitz from SWAG asked me to pick 10 essential albums, which is certainly a tasking exercise given the list of my must-have/must-listen albums is far longer than that. With much effort I finally managed to come up with the following list that is certainly indicative but by no means exhaustive or definitive (so expect more lists in the future)... meanwhile look them up and have a listen for yourselves! Here is the feature as reported online: One of Malta’s best-k

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Michael Bugeja

Jun 22, 2014
4 min

NOSNOW/NOALPS: READY TO GO GO GO GO

Theirs is possibly one of the best-coined names a Maltese band has ever come up with, even more so when coupled with the title of their 2007 debut EP, Just Rock. And yet despite the deep-rooted Maltese connotation behind the name, nosnow/noalps is one of the few local bands to have almost always featured a non-Maltese member within its ranks. On some level, this possibly also reflects the band’s pronounced inclination towards the international circuit, which it has toured sev

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Michael Bugeja

Jun 15, 2014
4 min

BOMBA'S BACK IN ZION

Operation Offbeat is a multiple-band tour that was launched towards the end of April in Australia. Why then are you reading about it on a Maltese newspaper, you might wonder? The answer is simple really; two of the bands on the tour, namely Bustamento and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO) feature the one and only NICKY BOMBA, who will be giving a live performance in Malta a week from today. The tour's main aim was effectively to help the logistically-heavy MSO get to UK's fam

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Michael Bugeja

Jun 14, 2014
1 min

ROCKNA HITS 200

Weekly radio show ROCKNA, which is broadcast every Friday on Radio 101, will be celebrating its 200th edition with a special show on June 20. Focusing entirely on the music scene in Malta, the show was first broadcast on July 9, 2010 and is hosted by Michael Bugeja. In the 4 years ROCKNA has been on air, it has featured interviews with over 200 different bands and artists, with a good number of them often also performing live unplugged sessions during the programme. A compila

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Michael Bugeja

Jun 9, 2014
1 min

CARAVANA SUN: SUNNY SIDE UP

Fresh from giving not one, but two rousing performances at Earth Garden over the weekend, Australian band Caravana Sun will be giving a third performance this Wednesday in The Music Room at St. James Cavalier in Valletta . Titled Sunny Side Up, this will be one special gig that promises not only a fresh dose (and probably a more intimate take) of the band’s signature blend of gypsy soul ska and rock, but also a variety of other musical pick-me-up’s thanks to guest appearance

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CARAVANA SUN: SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

Michael Bugeja

Jun 1, 2014
4 min

CARAVANA SUN: SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

‘A frenetic fusion of gypsy ska and surf rock’; possibly the most succinct and precise way of summing up what it is about Australian band Caravãna Sun that has effectively connected with so many different audiences at home and indeed around Europe. As integral as this melée of sounds is to the band’s encompassing appeal, there is a bigger, stronger factor that has helped endear them to every audience they’ve had the pleasure to entertain, and it is to be found in their energe

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Michael Bugeja

Jun 1, 2014
4 min

THE RIFFFS: CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC

“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

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