Virus Project and No Sweat Productions present Koopa, a three-piece band and from Essex whose loud and fast tunes are out to grab Maltese audiences and get them rocking! The UK punk band – whose song Blag, Steal and Borrow entered the UK charts at number 31 – will be playing live in Malta in two concerts today at Luxol, St Andrew’s (doors open at 9.30pm) and tomorrow at Rookies Bar, Bugibba (doors open at 9pm). Local bands Xtruppaw and BNI will support Koopa. Tickets cost Lm2 at Luxol (which includes free entrance for the Rookies event) and Lm1.50 at Rookies.

The band, composed of brothers Ollie and Stu Cooper and Joe Murphy, was formed in 2000 and has been growing ever since. In fact, Koopa became the first unsigned group to have a top 40 UK hit, under new rules governing internet music sales. They entered the charts on the back of internet download sales alone, according to the Official UK Charts Company. Koopa’s sharp, witty and gifted style promises to get crowds moving and those present can expect to have a laugh, jump around and sing along. For more info log on to myspace.com/koopa.

Virus Project, presented by Gianni Zammit, is aired on One TV on Tuesday evenings at 10.15pm with a repetition every Wednesday at midnight.

The project aims to give growing artists a chance while keeping the public up-to-date with the arts and music scene in Malta and abroad.

Meanwhile, Koopa will also perform an acoustic session at a lucky winner’s house, which will also be filmed and aired on the TV programme Virus.