Ghanafest is the best place to see these top local bands sing in Maltese!

Malta’s favourite annual folk music festival is about to kick-off – but who are the bands headlining this year’s massive Għanafest programme?

The Travellers

The Travellers got together in 2013 to try to bring something different to Malta’s music scene, experimenting with a mix of contemporary music, brass and Maltese lyrics.

Following their hit debut single Sempliċità, the band released their debut EP with five original chart-topping tracks. Their debut album, Iljuni fis-Silġ was launched in April last year, which included their famous hit, Ħafi Paċi Kuluri.

For their first time at Għanafest, The Travellers have created a set which showcases original material, songs from their debut album, and some of their early releases from their EP Xemx u Xita.

Mistura

Mistura was formed as a duo in 2012 when Antonio Olivari wrote a song for the L-Għanja tal-Poplu festival and roped in Malcolm Bonnici to sing it. After their first album as a duo, they made the transition to full rock band – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Songs from the recently-released Mistura second album Regħbus will form the backbone of the band’s Għanafest set – which they themselves say will be “loud, impatient and sardonic in trying to explain the world around us. Rocking in Maltese is what we do!”

Skald

Skald came together in October 2017 to create musical renditions of literary works by acclaimed author Dun Karm Psaila – and they were such a success that they were asked to play at other events including Għanafest and Notte Bianca.

With their shared love of all things Għana, and its part within Maltese culture, Skald are returning to Għanafest this year with a unique performance alongside an ghannej, or traditional folk singer.

Plus, Skald are soon to start work on an album in collaboration with Festivals Malta – the people behind Għanafest – so Għana fans should stay tuned for more Skald coming soon!

Żigarella

The most recently-established band of this year’s Għanafest line-up, Żigarella was formed in March 2019 through a mutual love of Għana and the urge to experiment with it. Described as ‘the ambassador of Maltese Għana with a twist’, Żigarella creates a hybrid between traditional Maltese singing and music, and more contemporary sounds that appeal to modern audiences.

For their first Għanafest experience, Żigarella promises a dynamic performance that is full of the classic, ethnic and contemporary spirit of Maltese culture, old and new.