Remember that time you wanted to take your family out to dinner? Somewhere good, but that didn’t rock the boat too much. So you take them to the local pizza and pasta restaurant with the massive portions and affordable ribeye and your whole family leaves content, nary a complaint.
While no new tastes or experiences were had, no one had a bad time. Earth Garden is the pizza and pasta restaurant of alternative festivals.
This year’s edition continued in the vein of previous editions – good vibes, rising prices, CID and police officers annoying festival-goers and some of the most non-offensive musicians one could find to rock the three and many half stages encapsulated in Malta’s dustiest, yet greenest, National Park.
Earth Garden has developed a name over the past 10 years as the alternative lifestyle festival, mixing green initiatives and workshops with music and some art amidst the landscape of Ta’ Qali.
There were some great workshops over the weekend, teaching everything from practical tips on permaculture and superfoods, to acro yoga and art healing, to the amazingly-named Shamangelic Closing Circle and Celebration.
There was also a decent selection of food from some of the more interesting culinary purveyors of the land, like Kuya’s Asian fusion, The Pulled Meat Company’s pulled meats and Antojitos Mexican street food, among others. There were also free water supplies around the festival to help keep your costs down.
However, there are some issues with the festival, not least of all the unadventurous musical choices that makes one feel like more can be done (for starters, Tribali again?). Indeed, once you get past the hippy veneer of the place, it quickly feels like this could be a trippier Beer Festival, or even some big, family-friendly town feast/event, albeit hosted in Goa, India.
That said, there are limits to how feasible anything radical can be in Malta on a large scale. If you want to sell something on this island you cannot be too different, otherwise the Maltese will not bite. For every boundary you push in Malta you push away whole groups of Maltese attendees. Such is a population when creativity is not given importance on a national level.
Earth Garden is not the first arts/culture/music event to suffer from a conservative customer base and it will not be the last. And, to address this issue, Earth Garden has had to find a balance between its forward-thinking philosophy and intended radicalism and its business logistics.
If you want to sell something on this island, you cannot be too different, otherwise the Maltese will not bite
Many business owners would agree that it is worth holding back some of the more interesting facets of your venture if it means your customer base is not scared off and keeps on returning.
And, by successfully maintaining such a balance, the last decade has seen Earth Garden absolutely cement itself as a must-attend event for those looking for something alternative.
By offering a three-day escape right at the beginning of summer in a natural space in Malta, relatively removed from the cement that has come to define this little island, Earth Garden is confirming that it is more than just a club night or some overdone beach party. This is the grass and the trees and the dirt of the land and you are welcome to lose yourself in it for three days among like-minded individuals (police not included).
Day 1
After practically parking on American soil and waiting in one of the biggest lines I’ve ever seen for a Maltese event, I, finally, made it to the entrance. Seeing as I was not sure I could make it on the Saturday and Sunday, I opted for a day ticket. “Sorry, we’re out of day tickets,” I am told. But it’s Friday, it’s 8pm, how can you be out of day tickets already? “We only have the €15 weekend tickets left,” I am told as I hand over more money than I wanted (the beginning of a trend that would, unfortunately, continue all weekend).
Inside, I saw all the familiar faces. Pretty much anyone who is at all interested in anything alternative comes out for Earth Garden, and I can only suspect next year’s will be even more popular.
The first stroll around the festival is great fun, if only for the fact that it’s taken the normal space of Ta’ Qali and converted it into something different, and bestowed upon it a legitimate festival vibe.
After we had gotten our bearings, we grabbed a drink and headed to the Enchanted Forest for some electro-swing to start of proceedings. As of 2016, it’s super cool to be retro. Anything vintage is in, and Electro Swing Malta is clearly capitalising on this recent resurgence.
While I am able to ironically enjoy this kind of music for a minute or two, my inner Jay Gatsby is neither drunk nor rambunctious enough to get down with his bad 1920s self. Even though a lot of people were enjoying themselves to some surf-rock classics, I headed to the Electronic Sphere to see what Unfocused had to offer.
While the housey-techno being played there was a bit better, and the people in front of the speakers were clearly loving it, I was failing to connect. I just couldn’t tune in to that electricity in the air that you find at a good gig, whether metal or techno or spoken poetry, that means that something special is happening.
With the cliché repetitiveness of techno on full display, especially in the last hour, we left Earth Garden for the first day, but not before enjoying some awesome Bang Bang Chicken from Kuya’s kiosk.
Day 2
Waking up comfortably in my bed, reading about police raiding tents in my morning news feed and still in possession of the three day festival bracelet I never wanted, I headed out at noon for Day 2.
The atmosphere was much more laidback than the previous day and we were able to find a really nice little spot in front of the Roots Stage, watching the Rifffs do a sound check. And I gotta give it to them. Even in the early afternoon where literally no one was ready to dance, by the end of their soundcheck the Rifffs’ infectious energy, especially frontman Ray Mercieca, had caught on and started stirring people.
Shortly afterwards, we were told we had to get up as they needed to set up a shisha bar in the prime spot we were in, so we, along with five other groups, accepted our fate at the hands of this capitalist machine and sauntered off to the Enchanted Forest to see the very fun Organic Choir Malta, who used their voices to create beats and melodies. A girl would become a trombone with the wave of their maestro’s hands, and I was happy to bear witness to this.
Pretty much anyone who is at all interested in anything alternative comes out for Earth Garden
Back at the electronic stage, Fabricka was warming things up with a distinctive, atmospheric set. Considering it was 3pm on an overcast Saturday, his set was both suitable and interesting. With other commitments to attend to on that day, however, I headed out early, sad that I would be missing Presence bring their psychedelic storm to the Electronic Sphere that evening, possibly the only hard and radical music to be played over the weekend.
Day 3
Day 3 was Sunday and Sunday is a day for rest, as we all know. I didn’t know rest meant sleep, but Blank were there to show me what God really meant.
From the embarrassingly soft and repetitive basslines to the clichéd funk guitars and terribly overused soulful vocals, the most fun I could have was watch my drunken friends do the disco fingers.
You might argue that a slow Sunday afternoon in the sun is the perfect setting for some chill disco house. I would argue that no setting is the perfect setting for some chill disco house. But that’s just me. Most people were just happy to use Blank’s space as a social event rather than a music event.
Disheartened at the level of the music output, I headed to the Roots Stage to see two people on stage straight shredding on their violin and cello. The output of Austrian duo Bartolomey Bittmann was literal music to my ears. Original, talented and in-your-face, this is the kind of alternative performance that I was hoping to see at Earth Garden, even if I was hoping a Maltese group would be producing it.
Then, I remembered I had seen a Maltese girl become a trombone the day before and all was well.
Heading back to the Enchanted Forest, I noticed that Kuya had driven their prices up by for the last day. Way to embody the Earth Garden spirit, guys.
Reggae masters Juuls took over The Enchanted Forest for the Sunday evening, bringing their typical reggae vibes to the masses, and the many CID officers walking around looking directly at people’s hands. Having heard that 78 people were arrested over the weekend at Earth Garden and seeing the CID myself, I couldn’t help but wonder if these people actually get off on ruining other people’s fun.
They must do, right? I mean, they can’t honestly think they are protecting society by stopping an Earth Garden attendee lighting one up to reggae music? Right?
Brikkuni, Malta’s indie-overlords, were coming on at 8pm and anticipation was riding high from 6.30pm. “...Brikkuni are coming on soon…”, “...Roots Stage at 8…”, and ”ejja minn hemm Mario” were overheard from the fawning masses. At 8pm, Brikkuni took to the stage with a roaring, intense intro, in no small part thanks to drummer Manuel Pulis and their folksy-indie was an obvious hit with the Maltese, who were jumping and shouting the lyrics out by the very first verse.
Brikkuni have tapped into a specifically Maltese angst and have lyrics that their fans can easily affiliate with, from describing to the dot the drudgery of the daily grind typical in Malta and the existential anxiety that even the most trivial action can elicit, to the aspirational, hyperbolic dreams for the future that can only ever come from the middle class. The references to specifically Maltese problems/issues is a key element to Brikkuni’s close connection to their fans.
Apart from Brikkuni, Nicky Bomba and the Malta Ska Orchestra, another crowd favourite, and Każinska were both playing the main stage on Sunday. Along with Tribali, these groups are some of the best examples of the zeitgeist that Earth Garden is trying to capture.
Maltese music, with world influences, using sounds and visuals that make sense to a Maltese 20-something looking to get in touch with his/her natural side for a weekend... or something like that.
By the end of the weekend, I felt like I hadn’t really discovered much new. Sure, I saw some Austrian dudes slay their strings and a girl become a trombone, but the Maltese music was a lot of the same old same old. Playing it safe in Malta is always the best bet in business, especially when it comes to music and it seems it may be a while until Earth Garden truly opens its stages up to new, exciting music that offers something different to the loyal crowds.
All in all, Earth Garden does pretty much what it says on the tin. While people might grumble about rising prices, most people still opted for a weekend ticket (not that they had a choice, but anyway). While people might grumble about the same artists every year, and the lack of innovation in the electronic music department, they’ll still be found on that hill in Ta’ Qali, sipping away at a cold beer/Dr Juice.
And while people might grumble about the overall product, they will still return to it next year – and have fun doing it. And this is why, when one plans on opening anything in Malta, it would do one good to look to the pizza and pasta restaurants as a guiding light for a strong business model.
What they said about Earth Garden
Rachel Scicluna
I’ve never missed a single edition of this festival and it has come a long way since its first time.
Through the years, the green attitude that raises awareness and care for the environment has greatly improved. The 3days1cup Campaign was a great initiative for reducing waste over the weekend and I was happy to notice that a lot of people took part in it by using one cup for the whole weekend.
With its live music and acoustic sessions, the Enchanted Forest was a great spot for a cold beer under the trees during the day and the Electronic Sphere was my favourite area for dancing the night away.
The festival brings together a mix of people from different sub cultures, whether you are into reggae, roots, jamming or electronic music – there’s something for everyone.
Maureen Tanti
This year I took my baby to the festival during the day and I really felt safe as the festival is very well-organised. I loved the Neville Stapes Band, Tribali gave an outstanding performance and Nicky Bomba never fails to impress.
It’s nice to have a festival that brings foreign artists and names that are not the usual mainstream ones. And that also gives local artists an opportunity to perform.
Derek Meilak
This is my third year and I can honestly say it keeps getting better and better. Amazing setup, superbly organised and impeccable music.
The Roots Stage really fit in well with the decor of the festival. Also, I managed to enjoy the music from all the different stages and the sound quality and bands/DJs involved all out on great shows. If I had to choose my favourite performances it would definitely be all the artists on the Roots Stage on Sunday, Tribali and the Nakara Project and the psychedelic party in the Electronic Sphere on Saturday.
I feel the reason the festival is so popular is that it continues to grow with bigger shows and great ticket prices for a three-day event, especially when compared to a one-night party ticket in Malta, sometimes costing in excess of €20.