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WINTER MOODS: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Michael Bugeja

Apr 7, 2015
7 min

WINTER MOODS: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

A household name even beyond music circles, Winter Moods is indisputably Malta's most popular rock band and has been so for quite some years. Its latest album The Journey, released last month, marks the 30th anniversary from the band's formation. Though inspired by the band's own journey in music, the songs on this album are anything but retrospective, maintaining the band's melodic clout while hinting at a broader mindset in terms of direction with very intriguing results. W

INVASION OF THE ZATOPEKS

Michael Bugeja

Mar 29, 2015
6 min

INVASION OF THE ZATOPEKS

They formed back in 2001, more as a novelty side-project running parallel to their imaginatively-named 3½ Inch Floppy band than anything else. Over the years however, Zatopeks became their main focus, and what started out as a joke, has taken Sebby Zatopek, Will DeNiro, Sammie the Giant, Pete Sematary and Spider on an exciting journey around their native Britain as well as to several other countries, the most recent being Malta when the band performs at the Rock The South 201

THE CREEPERS: STILL GOT THE BLUES

Michael Bugeja

Mar 22, 2015
5 min

THE CREEPERS: STILL GOT THE BLUES

They are, almost certainly, the most popular Blues band on this little island of ours, their live gigs an energized display of thumping melodies and rhythmic flow that always has their audience on its feet and getting its groove on. In the five years The Creepers have been in existence, the band has played countless festivals and played alongside several artists, even opening for Blues-rock band The Brew and former-Dire Straits member and co-founder David Knopfler when the U

WINTER MOODS' JOURNEY REVIEWED

Michael Bugeja

Mar 8, 2015
2 min

WINTER MOODS' JOURNEY REVIEWED

Five years on from celebrating their silver jubilee, Winter Moods are back with a brand new album. Released last Friday during an intimate live performance at the Valletta Waterfront's Hard Rock Bar, The Journey is the band's sixth album to date. Its 14 tracks reflect a band at the top of its game and with its signature melodic punch intact. As one may surmise from its title, this album is more than just a new collection of songs; it is the culmination of a lasting friendship

2014: THE YEAR THAT WAS!

Michael Bugeja

Dec 28, 2014
4 min

2014: THE YEAR THAT WAS!

The year that has passed in between Yews launching her alluring debut EP Selene at Blitz last January, and For Strings Inn dropping their Feathers & Stones album just a few weeks ago at Razzett L-Aħmar, has been an incredibly fruitful one for Maltese music, as I’m sure anyone who follows the local scene will concur. Compared to previous years, we’ve had a great number of albums, EPs, single and music videos released in 2014, and a good chunk of them of great quality too, with

FREDDIE PORTELLI: LONG LIVE THE KING!

Michael Bugeja

Dec 21, 2014
4 min

FREDDIE PORTELLI: LONG LIVE THE KING!

Mention Malta and rock ‘n roll in the same sentence and the name Freddie Portelli usually follows, and with good reason too. A local icon with a career that now spans close to five decades, Portelli will perhaps always be remembered for classic tunes such as Viva Malta, Ħallini, Se jkolli nemmen, Ma Kellekx Tort and Għal Dejjem, to name but a few. There is however, much more to Malta’s King of Rock ‘n Roll than simply those evergreens, proof of which is the prominent profile

NADINE AXISA: FEELING THE VELVET BREEZE

Michael Bugeja

Dec 7, 2014
4 min

NADINE AXISA: FEELING THE VELVET BREEZE

Nadine Axisa couldn’t have chosen a more fitting title for her debut album Velvet. Just like the fabric, the music contained within is rich in texture and smooth in its flow, not to mention Axisa’s own voice, so delicate yet dynamic in the way it drapes each of the 12 songs that collectively represent her musical journey ever since she stepped into the world of jazz over a decade ago. Released last February, Velvet marks a particularly successful year for Axisa. Apart from re

MALCOLM CALLUS: LIVING FOR MUSIC

Michael Bugeja

Nov 23, 2014
4 min

MALCOLM CALLUS: LIVING FOR MUSIC

Despite living abroad for several years, his ties to the Maltese metal scene are still as strong as ever. MICHAEL BUGEJA catches up with MALCOLM CALLUS to talk about zines, metal and how music has truly become his life and livelihood. Like most people out there, I tend to miss a good chunk of the myriad notifications Facebook throws at us at an impossible rate on a daily basis. However, a few months back one post in particular caught my eye, and I immediately clicked to see m

VINNY VELLA JR: MAKING MUSIC ANOTHER WAY

Michael Bugeja

Nov 17, 2014
4 min

VINNY VELLA JR: MAKING MUSIC ANOTHER WAY

MICHAEL BUGEJA hangs out with VINNY VELLA JR for a chat about the pianist’s latest album and the various elements that have shaped him and made him see music in another way. Vinny Vella Jr is an affable person, the kind of man who immediately makes one feel comfortable in his presence, and he likes to debate, especially when it comes to music. I found out all this when he invited me over to his place for a chat about his career and particularly his latest CD, Another Way. Ask

A LIFE LIVED IN MUSIC: SAMMY GALEA TURNS 80

Michael Bugeja

Nov 17, 2014
3 min

A LIFE LIVED IN MUSIC: SAMMY GALEA TURNS 80

If ever an example of a life lived in music was needed, Sammy Galea would quite likely be among the first names to come to most people’s minds. A pillar of the Maltese music scene for decades, this talented musician, songwriter and composer turned 80 yesterday. His remarkable career is reflected as much in his countless achievements as well as in the passion for music he has always displayed and which, together with his wife Doreen, he has passed on to his three sons; the res

INTRODUCING NO LILIES IN AUTUMN

Michael Bugeja

Oct 26, 2014
4 min

INTRODUCING NO LILIES IN AUTUMN

No Lilies In Autumn is the kind of name one might associate with a book, a movie even, but perhaps not so much with a band. In this particular case, more than just a band, it encapsulates a multi-faceted project with more than just music to offer. To begin with, the project does in fact owe its origin to literature, more precisely to a bout of story-writing that somehow inspired its author set his words to music, the result being the conceptual body of work that will be perfo

CARLO MUSCAT: INSPIRED JAZZ CATALOGUES

Michael Bugeja

Oct 5, 2014
5 min

CARLO MUSCAT: INSPIRED JAZZ CATALOGUES

He describes his musical awakening as a process that is ongoing; a journey in which he admits he is still discovering all that the music world has to offer in terms of performance and composition skills. Paris-based Maltese saxophonist CARLO MUSCAT started to study jazz music the minute he first picked up his instrument as a child, not knowing what it was about or even what it sounded like. Citing the genre’s strong aspect of freedom of interpretation and the space it allowed

A TOUCH OF SKA & BOMBA FOR ROCKESTRA

Michael Bugeja

Sep 21, 2014
4 min

A TOUCH OF SKA & BOMBA FOR ROCKESTRA

With a handful of performances on the island to his name these past few years, it’s safe to say that despite the long distance, Maltese-Australian artist Nicky Bomba is fast becoming a household name within the Maltese music scene. As comfortable behind a drum kit as he is upfront singing, playing the guitar or ukelele and leading the way, Bomba is a man of many talents. He has played with various bands and collaborated with many artists over the years, among which is a long-

DOMINIC GALEA: RECORDING OUR HERITAGE

Michael Bugeja

Jul 13, 2014
5 min

DOMINIC GALEA: RECORDING OUR HERITAGE

An homage to the swinging pioneers of Malta, the Tribute to the Swinging Pioneers of Malta double album released through Heritage Records ten years ago was, and remains, an important ‘document’, particularly because it offers a commendable representation of the music scene that existed in post-war Malta. It is thanks to Dominic Galea, who set up the record label in 2003, and whose dedication was the driving force behind this CD album, that such an extensive collection – 41 tr

MEET THE BANDS FROM ELSEWHERE

Michael Bugeja

Jul 6, 2014
4 min

MEET THE BANDS FROM ELSEWHERE

Never mind the octopus in the background of the Music from Elsewhere festival poster, that's just there to grab your attention. Once that has been achieved, it's the eight bands lined up to perform at that same festival that you should really be thinking about and looking up on your smartphone. Boasting an eclectic mix of musical genres, the line-up for the Maltese edition of the Hard Rock Rising On The Road concert tour is one that effectively reflects the healthy state whic

MUSIC FROM ELSEWHERE: RISING FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Michael Bugeja

Jun 29, 2014
4 min

MUSIC FROM ELSEWHERE: RISING FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Beaches bustling with people by day, clubs and bars buzzing with activity by night; summer in Malta offers up endless opportunities for those who like one or the other, or both. On Wednesday, July 9, one particular event will combine the two thanks to an innovative idea that has, literally, been making its way down to Malta for the past couple of months. A joint project between Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjonijiet Nazzjonali (FĊN) and Hard Rock Rising On The Road 2014, the Music fro

TRACKAGE SCHEME: TRACKING LOCAL TALENT

Michael Bugeja

Jun 29, 2014
4 min

TRACKAGE SCHEME: TRACKING LOCAL TALENT

Music has always been a part of 25-year-old Ben Vincenti’s life, the reason behind it most likely being that he comes from a family that totally loves music. While most of his relatives all play either the piano or the guitar, he cites his parents, and their record collection in particular as his biggest influence. Vincenti, the man behind the much-talked about Trackage Scheme online community which was launched just over a year ago, says he could have followed suit, but admi

TRACKAGE SCHEME: TRACKING LOCAL TALENT

Michael Bugeja

Jun 29, 2014
4 min

TRACKAGE SCHEME: TRACKING LOCAL TALENT

Michael Bugeja met with Ben Vincenti to find out what lies ahead as the final touches for Trackage Scheme’s first anniversary event. Music has always been a part of 25-year-old Ben Vincenti’s life, the reason behind it most likely being that he comes from a family that totally loves music. While most of his relatives all play the piano or the guitar, he cites his parents, and their record collection in particular, as his biggest influence. Vincenti, the man behind the much-ta

NOSNOW/NOALPS: READY TO GO GO GO GO

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

BOMBA'S BACK IN ZION

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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