“It’s not just an event, but an experience!” goes the slogan for this year’s edition of the Earth Garden Festival, and indeed it is. Back on track after a year’s sabbatical, the sixth edition will be picking up where the last edition left off, but instead of just pushing forward, the organisers have transformed the festival into a three-day gathering, with attractions that appeal to more than just music fans.
With attendance growing from strength to strength with each passing year, it is more than evident that Earth Garden has come a long way from its humble beginnings, to the point that it has now been confirmed as an annual fixture on Malta’s cultural calendar.
The first weekend of June has, in fact, been declared as the permanent date for this festival, renowned for its holistic approach in promoting environmental awareness via art, music and culture. This year’s theme, selected in collaboration with the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, is the quality of our air, as represented by the EU slogan Every Breath We Take.
As in the past, the festival will feature two main areas, namely the Greek Theatre main stage and the Open Village, which also features the Roots stage, the Electronic Sphere, the Camping area, the Remissa chill-out corner, the Why Not? jamming area, the Arts area, Ethnic market and the Kids’ area.
Unlike previous editions, entrance to the Open Village is against a €5 fee, which covers the entrance for all three days, including admission on Friday evening, which is a new addition to the festival. Entrance to the Greek Theatre main stage costs €15 (to be prepaid) per show. All €15 tickets include access to the Open Village for all three days. The Camping Area, despite being expanded further, is already sold out.
The festival kicks off on the Roots stage on May 31 at 8pm with a Juuls-sized bang, as in an opening party dishing out the best in reggae music along with a live performance from the notorious Mana Tapu. Espionage will be hosting the Electronic Sphere while the Greek Theatre will be taken over by a sound and light spectacle as Pink Floyd’s The Wall is performed by a Maltese line-up featuring some of the island’s top artists.
Saturday night will see the return of Tribali to the Greek Theatre. Riding high after winning the Best Album award at the Malta Music Awards as well as landing an unexpected Number 7 ranking in the top instrumental world music albums of 2012, the band’s performance will feature several guests, new songs and a few surprises too.
World-famous German DJ Boom Shankar will be playing in the Electronic Sphere alongside top local names such as Soul Kontakt, Duncan F, Moodshifter, Rod Minus and Anther. The Roots stage will feature an interesting line-up of world sounds – from Este Mundo’s Latin rhythms to Toubeki’s Rebetiko by way of Kainska, Keltika, Nisġa, Liam, The New Victorians and Martin McNeil and the Dissidents.
On June 2, the final day, the festival will feature a new addition, namely a Yada dance production aptly named The Summer of Love, Woodstock Edition. Directed and produced by Felix Busuttil, the show will feature music by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Animals, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Janice Joplin, The Monkees and music from acclaimed musical Hair.
The Roots stage will feature UK band Moulettes, hailed as frontrunners of the new British acoustic scene, as well as various local acts, namely Zalza Kukkanja, Irie Flo, Stalko, Manu Tapu, Fellow Fish, The Creepers and The Busker. The Electronic Sphere will be hosted by Perpendicular, featuring Slim, Carl Lautier, Mato and Danjeli.
Earth Garden will also feature the Remissa corner, a chill-out area under the trees decorated with hammocks, cushions and shisha; the Why Not? jamming area, the ever-popular Ethnic Market as well as various food stalls serving a variety of cuisines.
Greek Theatre ticket holders will be allowed access the Open Village for all three days, while children under 15 accompanied by an adult will be allowed free entrance.
The sixth edition of Earth Garden Festival is supported by FCM Bank, the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Cisk Export Premium Lager, V18, Vamp and Bay Radio.
Tickets are available from Exit (Valletta, Paola), Jubilee (Valletta, Gzira), FCM Bank, Why Not?, Juuls (St Julian’s), Paperclips (Msida), Zion (Marsascala), Angka Café (Marsa), Saqqaja Kiosk (Rabat), Remissa Pub (St Paul’s Bay), Pit Stop Kiosk (Xemxija), The Chef (Mellieħa), Just Desserts, Jubilee, Mojos (Gozo) or from www.ooii.com.mt.
www.earthgarden.com.mt