[attach id=269219 size="medium"]Johnny Logan[/attach]
Organised by St Mary’s Band Club, the Għaxaq Music Festival is fast becoming one of the more popular public annual events staged in connection with village festa celebrations around Malta.
The 2013 edition, which kicks off on Friday night, is supported by an even bigger number of sponsors than in previous years, and this has made it possible to include even more entertainment during the festival’s five-day programme.
Once again, the programme for the first three days will be held in Għaxaq Square while the last two days, which will feature two full-scale concerts, will take place at Għaxaq Grounds.
Entrance to all the festival events is free of charge.
The first part of the festival starts rolling this Friday with an evening of folk singing, featuring some of the island’s top folk singers and musicians, among them Karmenu s-Superstar, his son Ronaldo and Żeppi l-Kelba.
This performance will offer a staggering four-hour programme, kicking off at 8.30pm.
Saturday night will be dominated by the sound of the 1990s, as popular DJ Ryan Spiteri takes over the village square, playing a three-hour set. Other local DJs will be playing support slots. The party starts at 9pm.
On Sunday night, Serata Maltin Biss, a concert featuring established and upcoming Maltese artists, bands and dance companies will be the main attraction – an event intended to also raise funds for the Għaxaq Philanthropic Movement that helps Għaxaq residents who may need medical treatment abroad.
On August 6, the first of the festival’s two headlining nights will see top local acts Airport Impressions and Ira Losco, with full band in tow, take to the stage.
Already a household name, Airport Impressions have clocked up a string of successes to their name; from music awards to radio chart-topping singles and acclaimed live performances at home and abroad. With the band now gearing up for its second full-length album, this performance should offer an interesting mix of familiar songs as well as some new numbers.
And speaking of new, Ira Losco will most definitely be performing a number of songs off her latest album The Fire, including her latest single Me Luv U Long Time. Backed by a full band, she will put the experience she has gained over the years to good use as she puts on the kind of show one expects from Malta’s leading female artist.
The last night of the festival, on August 7, will see a mixture of top local and foreign talent. This year’s representative for Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest, Gianluca Bezzina, will be bringing both his infectious smile and his music to the stage to perform an opening set as the festival edges closer to its finale.
And who better to round off the celebrations if not the most successful artist in Eurovision history? The Australian-born Irishman Johnny Logan, who won the Eurovision Song Contest three times, will be flying in especially to perform all his best-known hits and more. He will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra under the direction of Mro Joe Brown.
Both these concerts will also be free of charge, but the public is urged to give a donation at the entrance in support of the Puttinu Cares Foundation.
For details, look up the Għaxaq Music Festival page on Facebook.