The 18th edition of the BJ's music marathon, which has become one of the highlights of the musical calendar, is due to start on Easter Monday.

The annual event at the Paceville nightclub seeks to raise funds for the Millennium chapel's social project WOW - Wishing Others Well. To date, BJ's Nightclub has collected over €279,000 (Lm119,774) for charitable causes.

A number of major bands have already confirmed participation in this year's edition namely Salt, Fakawi, Fire, Drive, The Myth, Carrie, Metrokween, White Crimson, Explicit, the Blues Band, the Quaks and a multitude of sole artistes such as Godwin Lucas, Harry Edelston and Nadine Axisa, Paul Giordmaina and many others.

Camilleri Wines are again associating themselves with the one-week non-stop marathon with their Palatino range of wines.

Etienne Mallia, marketing executive at Camilleri Wines, said: "Following the success and positive feedback generated from our past two year's sponsorship of this popular music marathon, we have again this year opted to support this worthy cause by ensuring a flow of our Palatino wines. Palatino is one of our flagship products and this is why we chose this brand to represent us at this exciting event".

Thanking Camilleri Wines for their support, BJ's owner Philip Fenech said the marathon had become an institution. "It is a music event aimed at preserving live music as a form of entertainment that has managed to attract an ever increasing niche market all year round. Besides, we use this attractive venue to support a most worthy cause - WOW - Wishing Others Well - a social initiative undertaken by the Millennium chapel."

The marathon will kick off at 5 p.m. Musicians who would like to participate can contact Mr Fenech on 9949 3534 or BJ's Nightclub on 2137 7642 (after 10 p.m.).