With names like Nicky Bomba, The Rifffs and Brikkuni headlining, this year’s edition of Earth Garden is set to go off with a bang. Part of the Valletta 2018 official programme, the event brings together over 100 acts across four days.
It’s touted as Europe’s best kept secret festival, and this year Earth Garden Music Festival is back with five music stages, two campsites, over 100 acts, an ethnic market, healing fields, an international food court, a kids’ area and – of course – a never-ending music programme that spans a variety of genres.
The annual, open-air, non-mainstream music festival, which has been going for over 11 years, typically attracts over 25,000 people to the National Park in Ta’ Qali, which is transformed into a colourful, vibrant, feel-good zone throughout festival weekend.
This year, the line-up features 40 international acts, and the music styles vary from world music to blues, jazz, funk, ska, dub, reggae, psychedelic and alternative rock, gypsy punk, psychedelic trance ’n’ dub, techno, acid, house, ambient, electro, drum ’n’ bass and more.
One of the major acts this year, guaranteed to get the crowd moving, is Gentleman’s Dub Club, which have built a reputation for consistently delivering one of the most energetic and exhilarating live shows to emerge from the UK bass music scene.
Equally eagerly-anticipated is Australian drum ’n’ didge band Wild Marmalade, blending the ancient, soul-stirring sounds of the didgeridoo with modern dance beats and tribal grooves, accompanied by guitarist Paul George to ignite high-energy, dance music.
British-based band Lakuta will also be performing at the Roots Stage, touted by The Guardian as producing “an infectiously danceable bed of sound: a frivolous, uplifting spirit and a steely core”. The band’s highly danceable mix of Afrobeat, Funk and Latino grooves has led them to tour extensively, headlining stages at The Southbank Centre, Glastonbury Festival and Latitude Festival, just to mention a few.
The Turbans, with roots in Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Iran, Greece and England, will also be taking over the Roots Stage and bringing all their diverse influences coming together to create an infectious sound.
Earth Garden this year has raised the bar a notch or three for dub lovers, with a whole host of other big names from the international scene: Tetra Hydro K; West African harmonies band K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade; fusion band Markus & Shahzad and funky beats band Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble. The crowd will already be familiar with French duo Tetra Hydro K thanks to their collaborations with Panda Dub.
Somewhat different in vibe, but just as gorgeous, is the Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble, taking the traditional voodoo rhythms of Benin and combining them with soulful song writing, jazzy improvisations and funky beats. The eight-piece group has just finished recording its fourth album, so expect some new tunes on the Roots Stage.
As usual, the Roots Stage also hosts some well-loved homegrown names. This year, Brikkuni and The Rifffs, each boasting a huge cult following, will take to the stage on Thursday at 9.30pm and Sunday at 6.10pm respectively. Manatapu, fresh from launching their debut album, perform on Thursday right after Brikkuni. Crowning the stage for Sunday night’s grand finale is Australia-based Nicky Bomba, another ska legend with close ties to Malta, who will perform with The Malta Ska Orchestra.
Last year, electronic music lovers congregated at Electronic Sphere and Strawberry Hill, and this year promises to be no different with over 50 artists performing in these two areas, including artists hailing from England, Holland, Italy, Romania, Sweden, France and the US.
This year sees the introduction of Hazed Mornings at the Electronic Sphere, with late morning music sessions that kick off at noon on Friday and Saturday. Hazed focuses mostly on ambient, psy-chill, downtempo, IDM and electronica.
Friday night sees the ever-popular promoters We Love Acid present Luke Vibert, a British recording artist and producer known for his work in many subgenres of electronic music, including collaborations with Aphex Twin.
The Rifffs.Also returning this year is 030303 Crew, which was responsible for creating an epic rave vibe last year.
Joining on Saturday is one of Malta’s oldest and most consistent techno promoters, Disorder, presenting the internationally-acclaimed Regis.
Sunday is time for Presence and their loyal crowd, known to love and live for the music. Presence has been hosting nights at Earth Garden since the early editions, making it impossible to imagine the festival without a psychedelic night. Psy and Goa pioneers Trance Etnika and DJ Antaro will be accompanied by Earth Garden resident DJ Armin Boom Shankar.
Once again this year Strawberry Hill sessions start on Friday night with Drum & Bass, Jungle and Breakbeat from the M.I.B. Crew line-up – Offensive, DJ Snow & MC Agent, Trimer & Kruze MC, Jahh Roland, Naxon, and Splash.
The festival, which has been going for over 11 years, typically attracts over 25,000 people
Saturday evening sees Malta Electroniché and Cultivated Electronics from the UK taking over the area.
Electroniché allows Cult Society and Frekenzi to focus mainly on Electro music, through Club Nights, documented DJ sets and live performances. London-based electro label Cultivated Electronics is headed by Sync 24, an electro artist and DJ, whose sets are always geared towards getting the party moving. Also performing is Carl Finlow, the mastermind behind Silicon Scally, presenting music that is reflective of the Kraftwerk era and the emerging electro-scene.
On Sunday morning make sure you’re up in time for breakfast, to catch Sunny Side Up at the Electronic Sphere. Sunny Side Up moves away from the usual clubbing timeframe with minimal and intelligent techno, warming the way for Blank.
Blank has become one of the highlights of Earth Garden, offering early afternoon house and house tunes on Sunday. Blank has turned the local clubbing scene on its head thanks to a series of landmark events held in unique locations, hosted by hand-picked local and foreign artists, creating a unique experience for its crowd of devoted followers. This year sees the return of house legend David Dee, as well as US-based artist Byron-The Aquarius.
The Enchanted Forrest is considered by many as the heart and soul of the festival. This year, the afternoon Strongbow Live Sessions, previously known as Acoustic Sessions, will be featuring 12 acts in three days, running from 2 till 6pm. Headliners include our very own Bark Bark Disco on Friday at 5pm.
Playing at 4pm on Saturday is UK outfit Rag Tag Misfits, which started out as street entertainers and have now performed pretty much everywhere from barns to cathedrals and concert halls to piers.
Sunday at 2pm finds minstrel band Bibita taking the stage with music inspired by medieval and early renaissance music.
Returning to the Enchanted Forest during the Strongbow Live Sessions, and also performing at the Roots Stage are Lyon and La Zel, as well as Opal Ocean.
Evenings at the Enchanted Forest start on Thursday at 5pm with Bass Culture. Their line-up includes the selectors, hosts and founders of the Bass Culture movement in Malta, D3c3li5 and Yabadub, as well as Island Rockers, Earth Rocker and Lion Black.
Malta’s unique northern soul and mod night, Espionage, will dominate the evening on Friday from 6pm onwards. The line-up will feature Owen Jay, Job and Phillo from the UK.
On Saturday from 6pm onwards, Mundo Muzika will take the Enchanted Forest on an unforgettable trip around the world with various diverse and uplifting world music fusion DJ sets, which include Mohammad Reza Mortazavi from Iran, Wild Marmalade from Australia, Markus and Shahzad Santoo Khan from France and Pakistan, Opal Ocean from Australia, members of The Turbans from Europe and the Middle East, as well as local artists.
Sunday draws the festival to an end with Juuls Raggae Night, featuring rasta positive sounds from Nicky Juuls, Don Chachi from Canada and Lion Black from Serbia.
Adding to the line-up will be special appearances by members of Tribali, who will be joining various spontaneous jamming sessions and short acts, or as guest performers, in various areas throughout the whole festival. This is Tribali’s way of celebrating the release of their upcoming album by recreating their presence at the festival in a similar way as the first editions of Earth Garden.
Earth Garden Music Festival takes place between Thursday and Sunday at Ta’ Qali National Park. Tickets are available online.
www.earthgarden.com.mt
