GĦANAFEST 2012 Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival
On the 8th, 9th and 10th of June, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will present a fabulous concert series of Mediterranean folk roots at 7pm at the Argotti Gardens, Floriana. Maltese għana (Maltese folksong), as well as music from Morocco, Greece and Spain come together for GĦANAFEST 2012. The festival will also host a series of workshops on traditional instruments and a special programme for children. A wonderful event for the whole family complemented by traditional Maltese food and the marvellous surroundings of the Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana.
GĦANAFEST offers a unique opportunity to experience the different styles of għana. Besides Maltese folk music, the festival presents a programme of local musicians and ensembles. This category includes the Nisġa Project with an up-beat programme of World Music, Middle Eastern influences, Flamenco, Jazz and local traditional instruments. Another ethnic combo is Hamam, led by Andrew Alamango featureing musicians from Malta, Italy and Turkey. This year’s programme will also present a selection of Marċi tal-Festa which constitute an important part of Malta’s music heritage.
Three extraordinary international bands from Morocco, Greece and Madrid have been invited to participate in this year’s edition of GĦANAFEST. Violinist Jamal Ouassini from Tangier (Morocco) is an international exponent of Arab-Andalusian music. He is also the director of the ‘Orchestra Arab-Andalusa’ of Tangier which has been invited to perform in major festivals around the world. Greekadelia duo presents an eclectic concert of folksong from the rural areas of Greece to live looping and electronic music arrangements. The programme includes Greek laouto performance, ethnic chants, Thracian and Macedonian upbeat dances, archaic love songs from Asia Minor and harsh tunes of the mountainous areas of Epirus, Roumeli and Peloponnesus. Zoobazar from Madrid, Spain is a powerful Mediterranean-fusion band. They are known for their strong live concerts that involve the audience with a vibrant performance. Their programme does not focus on one music tradition but shifts across various Mediterranean cultures, from Iberian folk to Balkan music, Turkish music, Middle Eastern traditional music, North African music, Flamenco as well as Rock, Funk and Jazz influences.
The cultural unit within the Ministry for Gozo is collaborating with the Council for Culture and the Arts to host a programme in Gozo. This is a wonderful opportunity to extend GĦANAFEST and create a new platform for the festival. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of June, the weekend prior to the official programming of the festival, GĦANAFEST will present a full programme of għana and Maltese music in Victoria, Gozo. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts is also collaborating with MCAST to endorse a public art-piece in relationship to GĦANAFEST. The Art & Design programme of MCAST includes a credit on site-specific public art engaging students in a collective project that is conceived and designed for a specific outdoor venue. This year the theme for this project will be GĦANAFEST and the art-piece will be installed in St Anne Square, Sliema with the support of the Ministry for Resourses and Rural Affairs.
GĦANAFEST – Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival 2012 is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. The Festival will be held on the 8th, 9th and 10th of June at 7pm, Argotti Gardens, Floriana – within walking distance from Valletta. Tickets: €3 and €7 for a three day block ticket available at the door. Parking available at the Floriana Boy Scouts headquarters, right next to the venue.
Malta Council for Culture and the Arts
230 Triq ir-Repubblika, Valletta VLT 1116 Malta
Tel +356 2123 2515
Mob. +356 7904 8179
