Newcomer scoops five music awards

Rocker Niki Gravino, a relative newcomer to the music scene, clinched a remarkable five awards at the Coca-Cola Malta Music Awards 2008 while double victories went to established artists Winter Moods, Beangrowers and Ira Losco.

The awards presentation was held at the MFCC in Ta' Qali on Saturday night.

Winter Moods were voted Malta's Best Band and they also received the Legends' Award while Ira Losco was voted Best Female Artiste as well as receiving the gong for Best Album of the Year (Fortune Teller).

Beangrowers won the Best Video gong and the Award for Best Local Export. Mary Spiteri collected the Lifetime Achievement Award and 16-year old Christabelle was elected Malta's best RnB artiste.

Niki Gravino's goth-tinged rock won him awards for Best Male Artiste, Best CD Cover (The Politics of Double Beds), Best Song (Catwalk Baby), Best Songwriter and Best Image. The singer was accompanied by his band The Vile Bodies as he received the awards, after which they performed his winning song.

The event, attended by an audience of around 5,000, featured enthusiastically received performances by Malta's top talent, including spectacular effects-laden shows by Tribali and dance artistes Toby & Kristina Casolani, as well as British DJs Deepest Blue, whose international top 10 hits such as Miracle were greeted with loud applause and singing along by the crowd.

TV personalities Stephanie Cassar and Jean Claude Micallef hosted the show and a procession of Malta's top names, decked out in the latest fashions, presented the awards.

DJ Mykill, accompanied by Kevin the Bongo Man, string player Philip and DJ Colin Fitz warmed up the crowd before the event.