Fantasy meets folk tales in Etnika's new spectacle

The young Anell set out to recover his dream tune which was robbed by Il-Babaw Bahri, the ghost of an ancient, greedy giant who took his kingdom to the sea dragon's underworld in a desperate bid for immortality.

Anell seeks help from the giants who take him to the Gozitan Dreamweaver, who shows him how to make a magic bagpipe and reveals to the boy the location of the entrance to the cave of Il-Babaw Bahri so he can retrieve his dream tune.

This is the tale of The Giant Dream, Etnika's spectacle which plans to take the audience on a mystical journey to the island's secret abodes where fantasy meets folk tales.

Etnika's much anticipated concert, Etnikafe, is this year being held at St John's Ditch, close to the Yellow Garage in Valletta, between August 27-29 at 8.30 p.m.

The folk band, which has been instrumental in reviving Maltese musical heritage, will be presenting a completely new repertoire of 12 tracks.

The audience is in for a surprise as the team of young musicians has worked hard to present a mixed media approach combining narrative, projections, dance and its trademark ethnic music.

"This year we decided to explain the journey of a lost culture, civilisation and melodies and their retrieval through a folk fantasy myth," Etnika's artistic director Andrew Alamango said.

The story was penned by the group's percussionist Andrej Vujicic and translated by Oliver Friggieri. Etnika also commissioned Alan Barbara to create the slides and poet Leslie Vassallo for the lyrics.

Mr Alamango said this year's event was in memory of Toni Cachia, il-Hammarun, who died last month at the age of 90.

"Il-Hammarun was the last in line of Maltese pipers. He passed on his knowledge and taught us how to make and play the bagpipe, known as iz-zaqq," he said.

Since their first Etnikafe in 2001, the band has grown immensely and their recent international stints in Tunis, Spain, Greece, Turkey and the Montreux Jazz Festival, among others, has served to enhance their style and music.

Both Mr Vujicic and Mr Alamango mused on the band's need to branch out and present their music to different cultures, as well as avoid saturating the local market.

Once Etnikafe is wrapped up, the band is planning to tour with their new show, telling the story of Anell with an unmatched passion for Malta's folk music.

The musicians in this year's Etnikafe are: Andrew Alamango, Andrej Vujicic, Jason Fabri, Francesca Grima, Joanna Aquilina, Walter Vella, Joe Debono, Oliver Degabriele, Julie Pomorski, Frans Baldacchino, Il-Budaj and Toni Spiteri.

Tickets at Lm6 are available from St James Cavalier, Valletta, D'Amato Stores in Valletta and Sliema or at the door. For information call on 2122 3216.

www.etnika.com.mt