MTV’s annual live music extravaganza Isle of MTV rocked the Granaries last night, with international superstars Jessie J, Rita Ora, Rudimental and Afrojack giving some 50,000 music fans a night to remember.
The show was presented for the seventh consecutive year in partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority. It will be broadcast across all MTV channels around the world in a 60-minute Isle of MTV Malta programme from August 3 and it will also air as part of the World Stage franchise.
For the first time, this year’s stage was transformed into a digital stargate – an amazing tunnel of artificial lights, focusing the crowd’s attention on a central LED screen creating a mesmerising 3D effect.
Rudimental, one of the biggest UK acts to break on to the international music scene in 2013, kicked off the night with their breakthrough UK number one single Feel the Love and rocked the Isle of MTV stage with their powerful dance anthems Not Giving In and Waiting All Night. With the crowd rocking out in the summer sun, the electro quartet from North London had them screaming for more with their high energy beats and unique soulful drum-and-bass sound.
Next up, one of the hottest new acts on the scene, Rita Ora, kept the momentum high with her unique blend of super charged R&B, pop, rock and funk. Ora had the crowd jumping with the explosive Hot Right Now, RIP and How We Do (Party), with a dance-collective made up of storm-troopers, performing around two supped up supermarket trolley’s outfitted with loud speakers. With her blazing white suit and vibrant red lips, Rita Ora gave an energetic performance showing everyone exactly why she’s ‘glorious notorious’.
As the evening set in and Il-Fosos Square was illuminated by the fluorescent Isle of MTV stage lighting, ‘Do It Like A Dude’ star Jessie J burst on to the stage in black hot pants and cropped multi-coloured shirt, to deliver her signature vocal driven performance. Showcasing her powerhouse musical style that mixes soul vocals with contemporary R&B, pop, electro-pop, and hip-hop beats, the fierce songstress had everyone on their feet chanting the lyrics to popular dance anthems Price Tag, Who's Laughing Now and Domino. As hit single Laserlight filled the square, so did the glow of thousands of mobile phones. Calling out to the crowd “enjoy life and live for the moment” Jessie J thanked the European fans for “one amazing party”, before closing with an electrifying performance of hot new single WILD from her highly anticipated second studio album.
Bringing this year’s Isle of MTV to a climactic close was multi-award winning, platinum selling producer and electro-dance DJ Afrojack. The two-time Grammy award-winning producer and DJ had the crowd thumping to a slew of hard-hitting underground hits, including platinum selling dance anthem Take Over Control, Titanium and As Your Friend, the global star’s latest collaboration with US singer/songwriter Chris Brown.
Video courtesy of MTV/Malta Tourism Authority.