The ultimate gig

Anyone who attended last year's Isle of MTV concert on the Fosos at Floriana can't wait for the rest of the line-up for this year's gig on June 25 to be announced. But for the moment wait is just what we'll all have to do, because only US band One Republic are confirmed so far.

One thing is certain. Judging by last year's cast, all the participating bands and singers will be strictly A list acts. On July 26 last year the best line-up of acts ever assembled here in Malta took to the stage on the Fosos before no fewer than 40,000 fans. The acts, headlined by Spanish superstar Enrique Iglesias, were absolutely astounded by both the size of the crowd and the welcome they received here in Malta. This enthusiastic reception was also extended to the support acts - although rock band Maroon5 and the Senegalese/American hip-hop and R & B singer Akon are monumental stars in their own right and both are quite capable of filling a stadium. Also on the bill that memorable night was our very own superstar Ira Losco and the band Winter Moods.

This year the Isle of MTV Concert is the main and most important event in The Malta Music Week in collaboration with G7 and the Malta Tourism Authority, which kicks off on June 20 at Gianpula, Rabat with DJ's Filo & Peri from the US. DJ Peri will be at La Grotta, Gozo, on June 21, and at a beach party at Ġnejna, which is earmarked for June 22. Other parties are due to happen on June 23 and 24 in Buġibba and St Julian's respectively. And while the US DJs will top the bill, they will be supported by the very best local jocks.

Since MTV have signed up to a three-year deal for Malta to host an Isle of MTV Concert every year up to 2010, the Malta scene and the island in general will be getting a huge publicity boost in all 18 countries on the Europe MTV network. And in addition, this year the concert will be beamed across continents to reach almost 50 million viewers. Tourism in Malta and Gozo has enjoyed a major upswing in the past year or so, but the MTA is certainly not resting on its laurels.

A huge event like the 2008 Isle of MTV concert will only serve to boost that essential pillar of the Maltese economy still further.

The concert on June 25 will bring to a climax the Malta Music Week with probably the biggest pop concert ever held in Malta... yes, even bigger than last year's mega event.