I was fortunate enough to see my boyhood hero, Fish, definitely one of the finest songwriters of the 1980s when he was fronting Marillion, and also lucky enough to hear former Supertramp vocalist, Roger Hodgson. Although the event wasn’t as well attended as one would have wished, there was definitely a fantastic atmosphere all round, with seasoned enthusiasts and new converts to the rock scene enjoying the magnificent performances given by these consummate artists.

A local connection was also present in the form of Winter Moods, if not the best, then certainly one of the best bands around on this little island.

The festival began fairly on time at around 7:30pm with Winter Moods taking the stage. I must confess that although their music is pretty terrific, I did not immediately get into the spirit of the numbers until the end when they made way for Fish. However, Winter Moods’ singer was definitely on song, interacting quite effortlessly with the audience, although once again, the crowd at that time was pretty sparse.

Fish was a wholly different story. His antics on stage, coupled with his impressive delivery was something to be treasured and experienced by all. Of the hour and a half long set, most of the songs came from his new album Field of Crows.

The sound is quite bluesy, with a tinge of jazzy rock, although if you listen carefully, you can detect some Marillion influence. Fish also gave a lengthy intro to each song, revealing his extensive knowledge of Maltese history in the bargain.

But the enthusiastic rockers who jammed the parade ground were waiting for those classic Marillion hits and towards the end, Fish did not disappoint them. (including yours truly). Kayleigh was sung with full throated participation while the rambling Market Square Heroes drove everyone into a frenzy of pure musical enjoyment.

As the great artist and his band rambled off stage, the audience clamoured for more and more. The pianist started playing Lavender and a superb medley combining Bitter Suite was a memorable conclusion to the whole set. A masterly performance indeed.

Lou Bondi’ then came on stage and said he was Roger Hodgson! A bad joke but it was a good thing to relax those who were still dumbstruck by Fish’s breathtaking performance.

It took a while before the former Supertramp legend came on stage but it was definitely worth the wait! Hodgson is a master in the art of crowd pleasing and he managed to create an incredible atmosphere with his guitar and keyboards. All the classic Supertramp favourites were played, including Dreamer, The Logical Song, Even in the Quietest Moments, Take the Long Way Home and Give a Little Bit.

Hodgson moved effortlessly across stage, talking to the audience and producing such a marvellous sound that it was difficult to fault him on any count. He seemed to be quite pleasantly surprised by the depth of the audience’s knowledge of Supertramp songs and the level of interaction was quite simply amazing.

The impressive backdrop, which was Valletta, a full moon and subtle stage lighting also added immeasurably to the palpably beautiful atmosphere. The hour-long performance was simply too short and time really flew with Hodgson totally in his element.

Walking back through the dilapidated buildings on Manoel Island also brought back so many memories of walks and time spent in the area, many years ago.

Personally, it was a homecoming to hear all these classic songs and artists at Fort Manoel, a place which should be exploited further for such wonderful events.

I have only one plea to the organisers, who really did a splendid job on this one. There is still a band out there that is more than legend. A band that has three of its original members going back more than two decades. A band that has moved from the ravages of speed metal to the subtle sounds of new country and back again. That band is Metallica. Is it too much to ask to see them at a future rock festival? Please keep them in mind.