Eleven Awards were distributed in Sunday’s Malta Music Awards, which were held for the 17th time.

Another huge and enthusiastic crowd greeted the winners as well as guests Monroe and Peter Andre for this edition, which followed suit the Malta Song for Europe, and which was likewise, excellently co-ordinated. There was also a very good sound throughout, rather than some poor sound during parts of last Friday’s Malta Song for Europe edition.

Keith Demicoli and Mandy Micallef Grimaud were master of ceremonies and lead an impressive line-up of guest presenters. The Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre played the venue for the event, which did not offer any real surprises in terms of award presentations.  Red Electrick won two awards, namely Best Band and Best Song. The band was elated. “This comes after many months of solid, hard work and determination. I thank all those who supported us, “Matthew James told me when I contacted him.  Yesterday on their Facebook page, Red Electrick would also  dedicate these awards to Stephen Borg, who was a good friend of theirs and had lately played at Xirka Rock with members Pete and Raf just a few weeks ago. Stephen, well known as a member of Purple Haze, passed away early yesterday, aged just 43.

Ira Losco won the Best Video Award for the brilliant and highly creative production of What I’d Give, and Stalko’s laborious efforts over the past three years were justifiably rewarded when they won the Best New Artistes Award. Tribali won The Best Album category in what was arguably the most contested section, along the Best Metal Category. Tribali’s Traveller fended off stiff competition from Stalko’s Grandiloquence, Red Electrick’s Unplugged Sessions and Bletchley Park’s My Body Fighting. Beheaded won the Best Metal Band category, and they too saw off stiff competition from Insurgence, Myopic Destiny and Weeping Silence. Hooligan won the Best Best Hip Hop / R'n'B artist award, thanks to his third album Triboriginali, and Brooke won the Best Solo Artiste category. Last year, she returned with her singles Fairytale and Bingo.

The Agenzija Zghazagh Best Upcoming Talent Award was given to Ynia Vellale, who just competed in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest and the Maltese Export Artist was ten year old Gaia Cauchi.  She took part in the popular Canale 5 Series Io Canto, hosted by seasoned broadcaster Gerry Scotti.  Duo Blank, pioneers in Maltese electronica, were handed the Recognition Award. Peter Andre and Monroe went down very well with the crowds. Anticipation was high for Peter Andre. Earlier on last Sunday, he had visited and praised Mater Dei Hospital, having met and talked to some young patients and their parents. He also visited Café Cordina in Valletta and took time to talk to some fans and sign autographs.  Monroe, featuring another Maltese talent, Kelly Schembri also went down very well with the crowd. Kelly Schembri is also popular for her collaboration with Miami artiste Honorebel and another Maltese talent Stephen Davis on the song Strip Search, which took Europe by storm late last summer.

The show also featured Stalko, Duo Blank, Niki Gravino, Planet Seed, Monroe, Ira Losco, Red Electrick, Hooligan, Ylenia Vella and the recent Malta Eurovision Song Contest winner, Gianluca Bezzina, who went down very well. The MMAs are based on nominations from listeners for talents and material released during the previous 12 months in question. Voting is based via SMS voting and a specialised jury voting,  more or less along the same lines as the voting procedures followed by The Malta Song for Europe.

The MMAs will be broadcast next Saturday on TVM at  20:45 CET, as well as www.tvm.com.mt