The aftershock of the art revolution in the Western World hit the Maltese shores in the late 1960s. Many local established artistes opted for inducing some of this “new” colour in their works while the new blood started their own revolution.

In the late 1970s, the revolution gained momentum. Locally-produced “modern” songs in the mother language flooded the charts, spurring an eclectic movement of experimental artistes to come out boldly in the open, injecting a new lease of life in theatre and visual arts with a Maltese touch.

Following Western trends, in the 1980s, this new artistic energy found its pinnacle in musicals. Many production houses churned one original musical after another on a yearly basis, captivating local audiences by a storyline created by the Maltese for the Maltese in Maltese.

This year’s edition of the Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival, produced and promoted by Synergix Events Group, captures the soul and magic of the 1960s to 1980s “époque”, as the underlying theme for the stage programme.

It’s a walk down memory lane tomorrow, Wednesday, and on Thursday, going back more than 40 years when songs had to travel through cables to reach the rediffusion (cable radio) before the time came to set them free through the airwaves. Tomorrow, on the first night, those old popular melodies will be interpreted by young promising singers who, in many cases, will be introduced by the “originals” themselves.

If you are still humming those particular tunes that were composed by the master of Maltese musicals and the others that had a folkloristic twist, then you can hum them all over again on the next night with a passage from Gensna interpreted by two of the top local singers, Renato and Georgina under the direction of the master himself, Paul Abela, followed by The Versatile Brass Band meets The Greenfields.

The “farce” has always been the heart and soul of community theatre, still surviving in certain communities up to this very date. The modernists of the period recognised its potential and had to find a more refined form to satisfy the more discerning audience that emerged throughout the époque – parody was the answer. Whatever the form, the objective was to have a good laugh and with Zoo Goes Epoka on Friday and Sunday it cannot go wrong for a good dose made-in-Malta humour… a fitting tribute to those good old days bringing the times of the knights under the spotlight!

Though local artistic produce has grown from strength to strength in the years that followed the era, the use of the mother language slowly lost ground. Luckily, some still believe in its revival and never ceased to try. At the forefront is Walter Micallef, who on Saturday will be together with il-hbieb to give the best of his original compositions… a living proof of the lyrical beauty of the Maltese language.

And that’s not all!

A variety of warm-up spots on stage for starters! The young students of the Paul Curmi Dancing School and the tender talent from Carlo’s Choir tomorrow. It-Tieg (the Wedding) by Paul Curmi Dancers will be there on Friday; the imitable Joe Demicoli and his comic undertones of his songs on Saturday; and two sets of vibrant folk dance shows will be performed by Cameo Folk Dancers and Paul Curmi Dancers on Sunday.

And there’s more, much more… every single day of the five-day festival!

For how can celebrating Maltese roots go without the roots that have sprouted into a living folklore heritage as we know it today? Il-banda (the typical village brass band) will kick-start some of the evenings in the ever-popular traditional feast fashion, while the vendors of qubbajd (nougat) and mqaret (deep-fried dates-cakes), local sweet delicacies, will add more festa colour with their quaint stalls all evenings.

A hub of activity takes place around another set of stalls where local artisans set up shop for the entire duration of the festival and where a variety of traditional crafts are in production: limestone, filigree, wicker, weaving, lace and pottery. So do the producers of local edible products in pickled vegetables and its varieties, a product-line of food delicacies, honey, home-made fruit wine and ice-cream. Crowning these activities there is a five-day works-in-progress demonstration of the building of the girna (old traditional rubble-wall dwelling) and a very interesting exhibition of old traditional musical instruments and quarry tools.

Having satisfied your senses it’s time to satisfy your stomach! Prepared by Razzett l-Antik, renowned for its genuine traditional cooking, there is a selection of mouth-watering local dishes to choose from. Whether washing down your food or just quenching your thirst, you’ll find a range of Monte Kristo wines and other beverages ready to be served by MK Leisure.

Prefer to satisfy your senses and your stomach at the same time?! In accordance with the custom of the times when chivalry reigned supreme, Banquet with the Knights is a feast of enacted drama, food and wine, organised by Knights Spectacular and MK Leisure on Thursday and Friday. Diners will be given a complimentary voucher for one night accommodation at Barcelo Riviera Resort & Spa, Marfa. Booking for the Grand Master’s Banquet is now open. For further details and reservations please call on mob.: 9947-3445

Yearning for more, beyond satisfying your senses and your stomach? Outdoor Living is organising a unique mix of fun games throughout the five-day festival to challenge the dexterity of all the young and all those young at heart: archery; pole-jousting; a horseshoe toss.

For more details, one may visit www.epokafestival.

com. To book tickets for Zoo Goes Epoka shows on Friday and Sunday and a table for Banquet with the Knights on Thursday and Friday, one may call on ticket hotline 7938-0488.

Admission fee for the Valletta Waterfront Epoka festival is Lm1.50 for adults and free for children under 10 years. With each admission ticket, one also gets a ticket to Limestone Heritage and a free pizza at the Riviera Hotel. Ticket includes entrance to all shows happening during the Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival except for Zoo goes Epoka and the Banquet with the Knights.

Throughout the festival, all outlets along the Valletta Waterfront will remain open to the public offering late-night shopping as well as the opportunity to enjoy a meal or drink at one of the outlets along the water’s edge.