Tribal rhythms in Għaxaq

Summer music events in villages have increased considerably in recent years, with many band clubs now making such events an integral part of their annual calendar.

The latest of these is the Għaxaq Music Festival, being organised by St Mary’s Band Club of Għaxaq in aid of Puttinu Cares.

This year’s festival looks set to pull in even bigger crowds than before, thanks to a schedule of live music from top local and foreign bands and artistes.

The festival, kicking off tomorrow, is being held over five days, with the first three nights based in Għaxaq square and the remaining two in the Għaxaq grounds.

The opening night of the festival will be a Serata ta’ Għana, featuring Malta’s top għannejja, among them Karmenu s-Superstar, his son Ronaldo and Żeppi l-Kelba. The three-hour show will start at 8.30 p.m.

On Saturday, DJ Ryan Spiteri will present a village square edition of his popular 1990s-themed Rewind parties. Supporting DJs will play warm-up sets from 9 p.m. onwards.

Sunday night will carry a Maltin Biss (Maltese only) theme and is dedicated entirely to Maltese bands, artists and dance companies.

The event is in aid of Għaxaq’s philanthropic movement, which takes care of town residents who may need medical treatment abroad.

On Monday night DJ Pierre Cordina will be warming up the crowd as the festival welcomes one of Malta’s top world music collective, Tribali.

The group will deliver another adrenaline-fuelled performance.

DJ Carl Bee will keep the party going after Tribali.

The last night of the festival will feature a line-up of local acts setting the vibe for iconic UK band Smokie’s headlining performance.

Thanks to chart-topping hits like Living Next Door to Alice, Lay Back in the Arms of Someone and If You Think You Know How to Love Me and tours in the UK and Europe, Smokie remains a popular band that appeals to various generations.

Entrance to the festival is free but donations are encouraged to support the Puttinu Cares fund.

Visual Arts

Till August 16
Monogramma & monogramma, Translation of Tradition
The Italian Cultural Institute is showing a collective exhibition by Italian artists. Thanks to Galleria Monogramma, based in Via Margutta in Rome, the institute is hosting some current artistic tendencies which, though still expressed in a mainly local environment, have already acquired international appreciation and prestige. The exhibited works seem to want to lead audiences from the “intense hues” of the contemporary world (Ferretti De Virgilis, Frusciante, Lena) to the personal, almost intimate, fruition of the materials and matter that surround us (Donato, Baldari, Capone), to the abstraction of the subject/object represented by the concept of topos and cronos (Amorese). Works by renowned artist Angela Pellicanò are also being exhibited.

Till August 19
In the Wake of Caravaggio
An exhibition of oil paintings by Hungarian artist Tamás Cserna is showing at the Inquisitor’s Palace, Vittoriosa.
Other works by the artist can be viewed at the Opus 64 Galerie, Tigné Street, Sliema.

Evenings on Campus

Today
Musketterija Letterarja
This year’s literary night will focus primarily on readings and dramatic animations from a selection of texts written in Maltese by past and present academics at the University of Malta. The unifying theme for the evening is celebration of life in its diversity.

More than 39 academic writers have celebrated language, love, culture, literary figures, childhood, nature, relationships, special occasions, seasons and Maltese festas.

The event is organised by the Poeżijaplus team which has joined forces with three young and enthusiastic actors: Erin Stuart Palmier, James Ryder and Audrey Scerri; two established readers: Joseph Galea and Paul Xuereb, photographer Charles Mifsud and well-known musicians Renzo Spiteri and Simon Sammut.

Research for this evening was carried out by Terence Portelli and compiled in a new and engaging anthology, Baħħara tal-Kelma: Kitbiet Letterarji ta’ Akkademiċi tal-Università ta’ Malta, which will be launched at this event.

Musketterija Letterarja hopes to attract audiences who are passionate about literature, especially poetry and prose, written with a positive and optimistic outlook to life.

At the Atriju Vassalli, University of Malta, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday
Malta’s Lost Voices: Singing to the Unseen
Andrew Alamango: Public listening and discussion. At 9 p.m.

Monday
Just Shorts (14+)
Joyce Grech and Tony Parnis
Film night and discussion. At 9 p.m.

August 9
Triple Bill
Elements Dance Collective and Mavin Khoo Contemporary dance and video dance inserts. At 9 p.m.

August 12
Reading Mediterraneo III – Pietre
Biancamaria Stanzani Ghedini and Massimo de Majo with international guest musicians. Video installation by Joe Smith. At 9 p.m.

• Tickets at the door or from the Communications & Alumni Relations Office on Campus, Room 133, Administration Building. Alternatively by phone on 2340 2043 / 2142 or via SMS 7984 3480.

Other

Saturday and Sunday
Shakespearean Theatre Workshop
Theatrencore is organising a workshop led by Helen Leblique. The objective of the weekend is to explore Shakespeare through text, verse exercises and rehearsal techniques, many of which are used by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The workshop will include voice and text work on speeches and dialogues as well as exercises for developing characterisation and exploring scenes in depth. Participants will work both individually to improve one’s own practice as a Shakespearean actor and as a group to explore the dynamics of a scene. The workshop is being held in the theatre at St James Cavalier from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bookings or more information may be obtained by e-mail: theatrencore@gmail.com

Feasts

Sunday
St Peter in Chains, Birżebbuġa; Our Lady of Lourdes, San Ġwann; St Joseph, Qala

Monday
Transfiguration of Our Lord, Lija

Useful contacts

St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org

Manoel Theatre
Tel: 2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt

To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com