Despite so many activities taking place on this weekend before the general elections, the local scene is nonetheless buzzing with various music activities. Eric Montfort provides us with a where-to-go and who-to-see guide for this weekend’s music.

Tonight, L’Isle Adam Band Club, Rabat will once more host the Live At Bottegin jazz sessions featuring saxophonist Carlo Muscat and Joe Debono on drums. These sessions, which have been going on for the past few months, have attracted a considerable following thanks to the wonderful jazzy atmospheres these two eminent and relatively young musicians have conjured up here.

Also tonight, The Jazz Politics, a quartet comprising seasoned and eminent jazz musicians will be performing at The Coach and Horses, Msida. They deliver a unique smooth sound which gives a groovy twist with a fresh soul element to the jazzy and funky pop. Walter Vella (flutes and saxes ),  Eric Santucci (strats and strings), Mark Attard (keyboards) and Ryan Portelli on drums, can fuse together some very intriguing sounds, which are drawn from their various musical backgrounds. The unifying factor within them is jazz, as all of these musicians have grown up on jazz, and delivered jazz, both in Malta and abroad.  This event commences at 9.00 pm.

Fuse Box will perform their debut gig at Rookies, Bugibba, tonight. Fuse Box have only been around for the past few months, but with many years experience in their ranks. Their songwriting reflects various musical influences. Their official facebook page describes their music as “a fusion of funk, blues, rock, atmoshperic and anything that is music,” and that “Fuse Box has set new boundaries to enter a more commercial market retaining its original roots in the rock scene.” The band comprises Graziana Victoria Axisa on vocals, Demis Fenech on guitars, David Grech on keyboards, Clive Scerri on bass, and Antoine Ferrito on drums.

Antoine, Clive and Graziana formed this band early last year. The synergy between the band members was clearly felt from the first days of rehearsals, which inspired in the creativity and flair of composing not just simply songs, but a way of expression.  Fuse Box has one interest, to perform live and share its music. A band driven by passion and love for music. This year should see them committed to various gigs and venues. Tonight’s performance is a free event and doors open at 8:30 pm.

Tre Angeli Restaurant at The Strand Sliema, will be featuring another acoustic session, when tonight, Keith Anthony and Christophe Ladret will perform on guitars and percussion.

Keith Anthony is no stranger to the Malta music scene, having started his career as a co-founder and writer for the acclaimed and award-winning Maltese band, Chasing Pandora. He has also gathered experience in London and Canada and featured on BBC Radio 2 with Janice Long. Nowadays, Keith runs a rehearsal and recording studio in Gozo, helping to produce new bands and commercial music in his spare time.

Christophe Ladret is a French drummer/percussionist who has over 20 years experience playing European stages alongside critically acclaimed world music and jazz artistes such as La Petite Pérole, Le Syndrome de l'Ardéche and Les Défrichés.  Tonight’s event promises to be an intriguing mix of European and Mediterranean music at its best.

Cusp will be performing their second gig at St. James’ Cavalier tonight, and will continue to feature new compositions that will be featuring in an upcoming extended play.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 2nd, top metal band Nomad Son, now in their seventh year, will be performing at Rookies, Bugibba, in a warm-up gig prior to their participation at the Elements of Rock Festival in Switzerland. At Black Gold, The Strand, Sliema, 2GV², featuring Luke, Josef and Keith will be featuring in a gig full of rock classics on two guitars, a violin and one voice.

On a completely different plane, The Coach and Horses, Msida will be featuring a stand-up comedy night with five fairly fresh fellows (in their opinion anyway!) who will be cracking up a unique kind of humour. The protagonists are none other than Matt Bonanno, Luca ‘Mule’ Stagno, Joseph Zammit, Steve Hili and Malcolm Galea. The latter two artistes are also well-known radio jocks and Hili has also ventured into the recording studios last year. This is a free event which commences at 10.00 pm.