Folk tales and songs, the grunting of a spit-lubricated zafzafa, passion, aniseed tunes, a dancing tambourine man and Malta’s Fabulous Folk Band Etnika are back in a swirling, carnivalesque frenzy of music from Malta and beyond.

Skin, cane and wind are the elements these nomadic musicians use to weave their spell, by digging into the well of the collective unknown.

Riding on the salty sea swept sounds that travel from dusty deserts to fiery volcanoes, to reverberate and haunt the inhabitants of Ogygia, Etnika presents a repertoire of new and old in its ongoing effort to build a creative repertoire based on the traditional and using indigenous instruments like never before.

Moments from their latest CD, Zifna, as well as excerpts from the latest compositions, give insights into a consolidated musical direction.

Laments, bagpipes, flamenco feet, children’s rhymes and disconcerting lullabies mingle and tease a full moon on an idle sea. Dance on, for the story is told in music and song, a visceral stomp in the heart of an ancient city.

Etnika is Andrew Alamango – guitar, mandolin, zummara, tambour, zafzafa, zaqq; Andrej Vujicic – voice, cajon, percussion, flejguta; Francesca Grima – dance, percussion; Jason Fabri – percussion, voice; Oliver Degabriele – electric bass; Joe Debono – piano, accordion; Julie Pomorski – voice; Walter Vella – saxophone, flute; Joanna Aquilina – violin.

Visit their website at www.etnika.com.mt

Tickets can be bought at St James Cavalier or on the door for Lm5.