Concert promoter and investigative journalist, Lou Bondi addressed the press together with Nigel Camilleri, director of N&G Promotions. Fish, the former lead singer of the popular rock group Marillion, and one of the four performers at the event, also braved the elements to answer questions from journalists. MIDI Marketing Executive Carmen Camilleri Ciantar was also present for the press conference.

Mr Bondi said that we are just a week away from the event itself and that this will hopefully be the first of many classic rock festivals. He said that Roger Hodgson from Supertramp, Steve Hackett of Genesis and Jethro Tull will be arriving during the week to complete a stunning quartet of rock legends. When asked about the response to the festival, Mr Bondi remained tight-lipped on actual sales but said he was “pretty confident” that there would be a great response and the festival would be a success.

Mr Camilleri confirmed that transport would be provided by John’s Garage after the concert and that safety facilities and other necessary arrangements would be all in place. The spectacular view from the Manoel Island Parade Ground, with Valletta as a backdrop, will definitely act as a fantastic lure to concert patrons and provide the inspiration for the artists, both organisers said. Mr Bondi added that both concert nights will be filmed and are to be transmitted in a special TV programme to be transmitted on TVM in the next schedule.

Answering questions from journalists, Fish said that his set will include a number of songs from the new album entitled Fuel the Crows, together with several classics from the Marillion days and also other material from previous solo albums. He was enthusiastic about being in Malta again and also spoke at length about his long-term association with all the other participants in the festival.

When asked by The Malta Independent on Sunday about the current music scene, Fish said he felt disillusioned with the contemporary practices that were creating compartmentalised and packaged artists with no real artistic talent.

He also confirmed that he would be coming to Malta again to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Misplaced Childhood. He praised Malta’s “great feeling” for music and repeated his empathy and love for the island, while also expressing his great enthusiasm to be performing at the festival.