After a very successful first edition last year, the Malta World Music Festival is back for more next weekend. The festival promises to be another year of contemporary interpretations of archaic musical forms, along with much purer expressions of folk traditions. And with six international acts having confirmed their attendance, it’s set to have something for all music enthusiasts.

Here are all the acts to watch out for this year during the two-day World Music Festival.

1. Cushion

An Indian Fusion band based in Malta, Cushion mix western and eastern chill-out music with mid-tempo tunes that often include professional dance choreography, fire juggling and buugeng acts.

2. Refugees for Refugees

Right what it says on the label. 10 musicians who had worked on a 2016 album had decided to create a literal “band of refugees”, building musical bridges between the different traditions they represent. 

3. Afro Celt Sound System

Sometimes, you just know how important a band is going to be from its very first moments. ACSC was formed by Grammy-nominated musician and record producer  Simon Emmerson, who’s definitely played an important role in the band reaching a million and a half album sales… not to mention two Grammy nominations. Back in 2016, ACSC celebrated 20 years of success, and at this rate, they’re going set to go from strength to strength.

4. Ana Alcaide

A Spanish musician and composer who carries out research on ancient traditions and cultures, Ana has regularly been featured on World Music Charts.

5. Trad.Attack!

If you’re curious as to what Estonian music can offer, than this trio has it all. Old and new collide in this exciting act that brings Estonian folk traditions into the 21st century.

6. Electrik Gem

All the amazing acts on this list have a very particular story to tell, one which more often than not goes back to their own home country. But Electrik Gem does things the other way round. The band’s project attempts to make sense of all the different cultures and genres they’ve experienced while touring through the Mediterranean, throwing it all back at the audience in style.

The Malta World Music Festival is set to be another unmissable weekend for music lovers nationwide, so you should definitely get your hands on tickets ASAP. 

Tag someone who needs to check this festival out!

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).