Excitingly, the first overseas band to ever play at Rock The South in its very first year is returning this year by popular demand: AIM from Italy, a talented trio consisting of singer and guitarist Marco Fiorello and twin brothers Marco and Matteo Camisasca on bass and drums respectively are in this year’s line-up. Also, last here in 2019, Bo Ningen is a Japanese four-piece noise and alternative rock band based in London. Their punk rock approach fuses the ethereal indie shoegazing sounds of the 1990s, electronic and progressive rock, and melody. With their Mediterranean passion, energy and emotion it’s no wonder they have a substantial following here in Malta.

A third overseas act, the dynamic English alternative rock band from Leeds, Pulled Apart by Horses, are performing both the iconic tracks with which they made their name fifteen years ago and new tunes from their latest album, Reality Cheques. They’re lean and direct and yet exploratory drawing on late 70s punk and post-punk with additional influences including garage rock, psychedelia, heavy metal and even touches of the soul, blues, country and funk of swamp rock.

Maltese talent includes post punk garage rock band Areola Treat who’ll surely perform Covered in Blood from their new EP Red Town Baby; ClubMurder whose twisted metal sets guarantee spine splitting, adrenaline pumped sounds; The Velts’ edgy energy and Roża’s textured indie melodies; and the haunting lyrical vocals of ethereal young star Kym Pepe who channels the inner Björk as she seals her places centre stage after years as an acclaimed backing singer. 

Legendary death metal outfit Beheaded will be headlining the Sunday and this will be their only Malta show for 2023. Michael Azzopardi also just released an acclaimed new album with the same album, and he’ll be performing songs from it with a full band on Saturday. As for  Silent Disco, the moshpit doers Black Plague will be taking over for the Saturday after-hours slot, and also a pre party + hip hop showcase for April 6th too! The Violent Violets are a renowned post-punk outfit that recently shifted to a full-on electronic sound, and will be playing a Friday after-hours set before Radju Ħaj.

Look out too, for the reunited veteran 1990s indie act Shostakovich’s Nightmare; new talent Cher Camilleri, one of the freshest voices on the local scene whose debut album was released at the end of 2022, back for a second time; indie dance high-power garage pop/rock duo, Beesqueeze; and Brodu who have been instrumental in the resurgence of Maltese language songs.

Visitors can also expect, of course, dancing, lights, laughter and the inimitable crazy joy of a Silent Disco: the line-up for this includes a DJ set from the mermaid-jacket-wearing Zkeletonz from the UK who stand for optimism in the face of negativity and ask, ‘why fear technology when it might set you free?’ and the intriguing Gh⊕s††, experimental ‘explorer of the unseen and master of the void’ whose mission has been to convert the visual into dark ambient audio and synthesized techno music.

As the breeze rustles in the palm trees above the bar, this lush wooded oasis of shade is the perfect place for live-music fans to make a myriad of memories. Get your early bird tickets now, and get rockin’ the south with Rock The South.

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