Mediterranean folk roots spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to the Middle East will be traced at this year’s festival of traditional music, held at the Argotti Gardens in Floriana in summer.

Organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the festival, called Għanafest, will include Maltese folk singing (għana) and Moroccan, Greek and Spanish music.

The festival, between June 8 and 10, will also host a series of workshops on traditional instruments and an array of traditional Maltese food.

The Maltese representatives will include the Nisġa project, which is an upbeat programme of world music infused with Middle Eastern influences, Flamenco, jazz and local traditional instruments.

Another ethnic combo – Hamam, led by Andrew Alamango – will feature musicians from Malta, Italy and Turkey.

Inspired by the festival’s colours, culinary traditions, folklore and music, students of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology are working on a project called Għeruq (roots) to produce a public art piece that will be exhibited in St Anne Square, Sliema in the first week of June.

Tickets will be sold at €3 for every night, which starts at 7 p.m., or €7 for a three-day block ticket. Patrons will be able to park at the Floriana boy scouts headquarters next to the Argotti.

www.maltafolkmusicfestival.org