Valletta Waterfront will host the three-day Epoka festival being held next weekend, from Friday 9 to Sunday 11, from 7:30pm onwards. Following the recent restoration of Pinto Stores and the opening of various outlets, this festival will be held along the Laguna’s edge. Epoka blends together Maltese traditional items in the historic and unique setting of Grand Harbour. Entrance is free of charge.
Epoka offers a celebration of everything that is traditionally Maltese. From the forgotten sounds of Maltese traditional musical instruments played by Ruben Zahra, to the colourful folklore dancing of olden times by the Paul Curmi Dancers, from the amazing craftsmanship and dexterity of skilled artisans to performances by Etnika and il-Budaj. Fresh from their recent concert near the former Upper Barrakka lift, Etnika on Saturday and il-Budaj on Sunday will present a selection of their most popular songs.
“Epoka will feature lace-making, basket making and weaving during every night of the 3-day festival, together with other Maltese skills such as stone sculptures and ceramics. The peasant girls participating in the traditional dances will also be wearing clothes made of lace and the ghonnella in one particular dance,” said Eldridge Saliba Curmi from the Paul Curmi Dance Co. Malta, who is co-ordinating some of the skills of the artisans with the folklore dances.
Hrejjef, which will be presented on Sunday 11 September at 8pm, combines Maltese folk tales with contemporary music and art created by Maltese composer Ruben Zahra who uses Maltese ethnic folk roots in a contemporary context. Actor Joseph Galea, as the storyteller, will narrate a sequence of five folk tales. Ruben Zahra composed an original score so that the music underlines and complements the drama of the story. The backdrop to this performance will consist of five large drawings, depicting characters and episodes from each folk tale, which Trevor Zahra will sketch during the recital.
Nafra, an acoustic ensemble featuring traditional Maltese instruments: iz-Zaqq (bagpipe), iz-Zummara (reed pipe), il-flejguta (cane flute), iz-zavzava (friction drum) and it-tanbur (frame drum), will be performed on Sunday 11 September at 10.30pm. Performers include Ruben Zahra, Daniel Cauchi, Mario Frendo, Evan Plumpton and Yuri Charyguine.
At this festival, visitors will be entertained and interact with various aspects of Maltese culture while they relax and unwind throughout the evening in one of the al fresco food and beverage establishments. Apart from unique live sessions, Epoka also offers a range of traditional foods. Corinthia will be setting up a Maltese restaurant offering the most exquisite Maltese delicacies from the 18th century onwards. These include rabbit stew, bragioli, gozo cheese, kannoli and imqaret.
Simonds Farsons Cisk will also be setting up a bar with a wide selection of Maltese beers and soft drinks including Cisk Lager, Export, Hopleaf and Kinnie. Marsovin will be running a picturesque wine bar, where wine lovers will be able to sample and purchase various Private Estate wine vintages in the idyllic setting of the Valletta Waterfront.
Epoka will also present an array of Maltese olives and oil where visitors will have the opportunity to taste locally produced olive oil. Other stalls will display honey, stone-carvings and Bristow Potteries ceramics.
“The facade of the Valletta Waterfront will be lit up by traditional fjakkoli to symbolise the Knights’ tradition for celebration. This three-day event promises to become a must-attend yearly event in the regenerated Valletta Waterfront. We have teamed up with some of the foremost experts in our island with respect to cultural and historical traditions, such as music, art and food,” said Chris Falzon, Chief Executive Officer at VISET, operators of Valletta Waterfront.
“Visitors will be able to enjoy this unique festival in the romantic setting offered by the majestic Grand Harbour, which will be further enhanced for the occasion with traditional festa decorations, live entertainment and exhibitions,” Mr Falzon said.