The Malta Independent on Sunday
Simon’s Pub Music Festival: good music, great cause
One of Malta’s longest running music festival is back!
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Simon’s Pub Music Festival is set out to be bigger and better. What’s great about the line-up is that it brings together established and upcoming artists, the young and the old. Some bands come back to participate year in year out, but the organisers make sure to make space for new faces.
Besides local bands, the festival has also hosted some brilliant foreign artists over the years.
This year, the line-up includes Kelly Sloan, a singer-songwriter from Ottawa Valley with diverse styles, ranging from soul, rock, blues, rock and jazz. Kelly has been awarded the Galaxie Rising Star Award and has performed in major festivals, gathering attention from music-critics across the globe. Since emerging into the scene, she has released four albums.
This year’s line-up includes Red Electrick, who are returning to the festival with their new frontman Joe Roscoe. The band are currently working on some new music and we’re very eager to see them perform live. The Crowns, who are also having a fantastic year will also be joining.
The full line-up includes Janice, Fiona, Chris Grech, Lindsay Live, Dusk, The Myth, The Phlaparoos, Native, The Odd Omen,Noggie’s Crew, Rise, Citizen One, The American Airlines, Purple Haze, Spirit of Voices, Julian Casha, Therese, Explicit, Deflecto, Luke Baldacchino, Family 3, Charlene Magro, ColourBlind, BnBees and Mirage.
Simon’s Pub was open back in 1982 and throughout the years, it become somewhat of a hangout place for musicians and band members. Besides being popular with the locals, it also hosts a lot of tourists and Simon has compiled a memorabilia of items from all over the world, all of which are spread out in the bar.
All proceeds from entrance fees will be donated to Inspire Foundation, a local NGO that works with persons with a disability helping them reach their full potential. Inspire Foundation offers education, therapeutic and leisure services to people with different physical and intellectual disabilities for free or at a highly subsidised rate. Besides the standard therapy and educational sessions, Inspire Foundation also offers complimentary therapies, such as horseback riding therapy, arts therapy, pool therapy and multisensory rooms.
The annual festival has become a crucial part of the NGO’s fundraising efforts, and over the years, over €100,000 have been collected through this event.
This year, the bands kicked-off the festival on Friday and closes today with the bands performing at 1pm outside the pub, on Depiro Street. There is no need to pre-book, simply turn up on the day, contribute a small donation and join the fun!
The festival is being sponsored by CISK, Gasan Mamo, Olimpus, Seashells Resort, Charles Grech, Pink October, Griffith & Associates and XFM. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/5 70647219980151/