Maltese group attends Rome mega gig

Under a clear summer sky and a full moon that washed Piazza San Giovanni in Laterno, in the very heart of the mystifying city of Rome, in an electrifying light, about 30,000 music lovers danced, stomped their feet and sang, stretching their lungs at the Coca Cola @ MTV music concert on Wednesday night.

Among the energetic crowd was a group of about 170 Maltese music followers that travelled to Rome on an Air Malta charter flight specifically to be part of this moving event.

The concert, which included top Italian and international bands including Marlene Kuntz, Articolo 31, Skin and Placebo, lasted three hours.

The Maltese group were winners of a Coca Cola music campaign which started with the Elton John contest at the Granaries, in Floriana and ended in the inner core of Rome that is famous for its architectural remains dating back to the ancient eternal city.

Piazza San Giovanni presented a visually pleasing site with the imposing cathedral dedicated to St John the Baptist. The baroque church standing out with its white finish under the lunar gaze is the mother of all churches in Rome and in the world.

It was founded by Constantine and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current basilica dates back to the 17th century.

The younger set of the Maltese group joined their Italian counterparts in the singing of the refrains as the massive crowd swayed to the music and yelled and screamed every time the mobile video camera swam across the audience filming the heaving humanity.

The less energetic ones in the Maltese group had the best of both worlds as they made a bee line to snack bars and restaurants nearby to savour a pizza and an ice-cream.

The Coca Cola music campaign is being held internationally in conjunction with Music Television.