Rock the South is back following its past success, for its fourth edition starting from the 9th and lasting till the 12th of April. Playing and enlightening us with their music, there will be over 40 bands and artists; and once again, this concert will be held at none other than Zion, the chilled-out restaurant and Reggae bar, which is situated in the beautiful Saint Thomas Bay in Marsakala.

Featuring this year for the very first time, will be a new area hosted by Hedon Crew, which will consist of several top-notch artists such as Electro Swing, Ghetto Funk, Alt-Electro, Indie, Punk, Dub and Dub step. Moreover, two new bands, Dull Eyed Lama and Crux will also be doing their debut at Rock the South, hence making this event one that is not to be missed!

Besides the several astounding and remarkable local artists ready to rock out, are a number of foreign artists, which include performers coming all the way from France, such as the hardcore metal band Temps Mort and Brozer ready to blow up the stage once again, the English punk band Zatopeks, and last but not least, the Italian Aim bringing with them their new album "Finalmente a Casa’.

Furthermore, featuring this year will be the punk fest Festahwied, after their disappearance during the closing of VGen. Additionally, Friday PM will also be playing their very first show after 15 years of fading from the music scene.

Several local artists, including the winners of the Battle of the North (to Rock the South), which is taking place at Rookies bar in Bugibba, will also be entertaining us during this four-day event.

 This event is clearly not to be missed, so mark it down on your calendars, as throughout these four days one will get to witness several outstanding local and foreign bands in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere, which will guarantee you and your friends a great time that you will never forget!

 Video of last year’s edition of Rock the South:

www.rockthesouthmalta.com

Official Rock the South Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/rockthesouthmt

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YKy4agfQrsI%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26autoplay%3D0%26theme%3Ddark%26controls%3D1%26autohide%3D1%26loop%3D0%26showinfo%3D0%26rel%3D0%26playlist%3Dfalse%26enablejsapi%3D1

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But the big question is: why is art important?

This question has been asked and answered by many and presented here is simply my view. Perhaps we are so busy in our hectic life, that little do we realize how much art is needed by us human beings. First of all, in my opinion, it is important to differentiate between the human species and the animals species. What I mean to imply is, that we as humans, unlike animals, do not simply need food and shelter as a means of living, but we desire much more than that. We feel the need to express ourselves, we want to be entertained, we search for comfort, we desire to communicate, we seek the spiritual. This difference and this need for the above mentioned, thus, instills in us the longing for something beyond the ordinary.

Many of us, as a consequence, use art in order to express our feelings and emotions — as a way of venting out everything our senses infuse us with. We find an outlet to what we are enduring and hence either find a way to dissolve the unpleasant sentiments or else partake in the trance-like passions. Also, as Aristotle implies, certain forms of art can purify our emotions via what he states as “catharsis”, such as when one watches a tragedy. Hence, art is used as a means of expression and this notion gives us a sense of individuality and identity, which we all seek to pursue.

Moreover, art lets us dive into our very own sub-conscious and delve deeply into ourselves. It helps us get to know ourselves better as we examine our psychology and mindset. Art can be further used as a means of displaying our inner dreams that lie in our unconscious,  Salvador Dali’s works being an example of such.  Due to the use of art, we are further able to express our creativity and imagination to their full potential. Hence, in my opinion, art makes us human beings, separate entities from the rest of mankind, that, thanks to our rational faculties, can form and give shape to those ideas that tend to be out of our focal awareness.  

Art is also a means of entertainment, as we are all aware. We search for it in order to break out of our daily, demanding routine and let it indulge us as it helps transport us  into another realm.  What is more, art has no cultural, social, or political barrier — but is a language that actually connects all humans together as one. Hence, art can be said to be a means of globalization as it is a way of exchanging the different values, ideologies, and notions that different cultures provide. However, case in point, if one sees for instance a Caravaggio painting, such as ’The Calling of St.Matthew’, it is easier to understand the subject matter if you are familiar with the Christian religion. What I am implying is, that art made in a particular culture might be easier to understand and comprehend if you are from that particular culture. Nonetheless, no matter from what culture you come from, I believe that we can all agree that everyone can appreciate the realism of the painting and the technique used by the artist. Thus, this shows that art is not that limited, but instead it is open and reachable to everyone, no matter the age, ethnicity or gender.

This has only been a short glimpse as to why art is important, but if you open your eyes to the life you are leading, you will realize on your own that art is truly necessary for us humans to function. Basically, as one of the most prominent artists out there, Pablo Picasso implies “Art washes away from the soul th dust of everyday life.”

So, do you think art is important, and if so, why?

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While other countries flaunt their amazing, blasting concerts, magnificent plays and open air activities, whilst filling our Facebook newsfeeds with huge bombastic posters about the various events being held, we rarely see anything of grandeur happening on our tiny island. Well, at least that’s what many think…I, however, tend to disagree.

The local scene around here is actually improving by the minute and perhaps without being aware of it ourselves, a lot is happening in Malta! First and foremost, we are surrounded by incredible bands, who, starting from their own little garage, are actually becoming bigger and better such as Juno and the Wolf, Xtruppaw, No snow/No alps and Cable 35 amongst many others. Gigs are being held almost every weekend at various venues and the number of people attending is always on the increase. Furthermore, local bands are also releasing not only amazing, well written original songs but also astounding videos to complement their songs. Hence, if it’s Friday night, and you have nowhere to go, I recommend you check again and indulge yourself by having a blasting night at a gig…trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Nonetheless, gigs are not the only events happening around in Malta. We also come across amazing local artists who host several exhibitions, ranging from fine art to abstract art and so much more, such as those organized by Divergent Thinkers . Visiting art exhibitions, in my opinion, will not only enrich your appreciation of the culture around you but it will also feed your eyes with pleasure and entertain you. Moreover, art exhibitions give you the choice to create your own opinion of the work of art and thus, discover new traits about yourself. Additionally, as a viewer you get to experience the feelings of the artist and also experience your own emotions. The number of artists in Malta is growing, as we are increasinly realizing the importance of art in our lives.

Likewise, on our little island, one can witness several stand-up comedies and plays. Several theatrical productions are held throughout the whole year, and the genre ranges from comedies to even historical plays. An example of a remarkable play is the recently perfomed "Il-Kennies tal-?enna’ (Heaven’s Sweeper) which was an absolute hit. Furthermore, stand-up comedies are similarly held all throughout the year at different locations, the most famous ones around being those of Steve Hili who recently left Malta in order continue pursuing his career in London. So basically, if you feel like having a laugh, or two, or even more, you should attend one yourself and witness the incredible feeling of not being able to breathe due to so much laughter!

All in all, as you have seen throughout this article, there are quite a lot of things to do in Malta. If in need of a night out dancing, while rocking your soul out, attend a gig; if you feel like admiring and contemplating on the beauty of the ability of humans to express themselves through paintings, go to an art exhibition; if in need of a relax night out whilst indulging into another realm, go and see a play; and last but not least, if you feel like your stress bar is exploding and you are dying for a laugh, go to a stand-up comedy! Whatever you feel like doing, do not forget to give your support to the local scene!

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