An idea conceived between Brussels and Rome will be materialising on Saturday, 25 August in Valletta, when singers Claudio Baglioni, Gianni Morandi and Riccardo Cocciante will be giving a spectacular concert at the Valletta Waterfront to create awareness on the problems caused by poverty and inequality to the thousands of irregular migrants and to the people, like the Maltese, who are hosting them.

Baglioni has already been giving concerts on the island of Lampedusa to create awareness on these issues. Lilli Gruber, Italian MEP in the European Parliament, has contributed to the organisation of the Lampedusa events. When speaking to Arnold Cassola, Maltese Green MP in the Italian parliament, the idea came up: Why not take the O’Scia event also to Malta in order to highlight the migration issue and to give it a European dimension, with the aim of enticing the European Union to treat the migration issue as a European priority and not just a national one?

Following discussions with Gruber’s staff in Brussels, Cassola was entrusted with the identification of a concert organiser in Malta and NNG Promotions were duly roped in. A meeting was organised in Rome for NNG Promotions with Baglioni’s staff and the deal was sealed.

Arnold Cassola said: “I am grateful to Lilli Gruber for having given me the opportunity to work together on this great project. Moreover, I am extremely honoured to have been party to getting the Italian government and the Maltese government to collaborate together as joint sponsors of this entertainment bonanza.”

“Let’s all enjoy the show, because the aim behind it is very noble. And, by the way... the show is for free!”