Back in the good, old days of Malta as a navy base and the ancillary trades this brought with it, Valletta’s Strait Street was the place to go for a good time. Now, the street is showing very positive signs of life, with classy restaurants rubbing shoulders with lively bars and music.

Although there will be no shortage of life as people make their way through on Notte Bianca come Saturday, the street will be getting an added injection of future-retro nostalgia with the sound of electro-swing, the increasingly popular fusion of vintage swing from the Roaring Twenties and contemporary electronic styles, including house, techno, hip-hop, dub-step and drum’n’bass.

The street, too, will be transformed with a surprise.

Swing is not new to Strait Street, and proof of that is a CD by Dominic Galea, who recorded swing and Latin classics by Maltese composers from that era.

The genre has been spreading all over Europe, and Malta has been there from the start, with events in this style being organised over a good number of years.

“It appeals to all those who love a positive vibe with a touch of style and class,” Dr Zicotron, one of the trifecta of DJs (along with The Chef and Dockerbone) that makes up Electroswing Malta, says.

Dubbed Electrostrait, the event, as part of Notte Bianca, will be bringing a unique experience to Valletta partying on the streets in such a historical and iconic street.

Original swing tracks along with an arsenal of electronic

While paying homage to the past, and particularly the swinging era, the DJs will embrace the opportunities offered by modern technology, thus portraying Valletta as a thriving, contemporary European city – with one eye on its glorious past and the other on its exciting future.

“In the run-up to V18, Valletta is going through a cultural renaissance, and we are proud to contribute to that,” the DJs say.

Rather than playing pre-produced remixes, the DJs come armed to the table with original swing tracks along with an arsenal of electronica and plan to mash up the two on the fly.

With experience playing in different events around major European cities, the group hopes to bring back some of the influences they have absorbed to offer Malta exciting alternatives from the mainstream scene. The group will be playing out in the open, in the intersection between Strait Street and Cart Street.

“This music has universal appeal, because some remember the real thing, while others know the music from old Disney, Charles Chaplin or Fred Astaire movies,” the DJs say.

“We are excited to expose the general public to innovative musical styles which they cannot listen to on the mainstream media.”

Notte Bianca will be held on Saturday.