Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535569
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 MAY 2025 CULTURE Hamrun Music Fest 2025: A new era of live music begins in Hamrun AFTER four successful editions un- der the banner Summer Vibes, this year marks the launch of a new identity for one of Malta's most anticipated live mu- sic events: Ħamrun Music Fest. The in- augural edition under its new name will take place on Wednesday, 9th July 2025, at the School of Music Grounds, Ħamrun, promising a world class musical experi- ence that blends international prestige with local flair. Doors open at 20:00, with the evening commencing with a dynamic perfor- mance by Family 3 featuring Fabrizio Fedele. Known for their eclectic sound and tight musicianship, Family 3 will be joined by acclaimed Italian guitarist Fab- rizio Fedele, whose expressive style and technical excellence bring an internation- al dimension to the supporting set. Headlining the festival is none other than DSL Dire Straits Legacy a project that brings the music of Dire Straits back to life through the very artists who helped define its iconic sound. The band features several legendary former members of Dire Straits, including: • Alan Clark the original keyboard- ist and the first full time member to join Mark Knopfler in the clas- sic lineup, Alan was integral to the band's evolution and global success. • Phil Palmer a celebrated guitarist who joined Dire Straits during their monumental On Every Street tour and is known for his refined tech- nique and versatility. • Danny Cummings the renowned percussionist whose dynamic rhythms added depth and energy during Dire Straits' final world tour. • Mel Collins an iconic saxophonist with a rich history in progressive rock and jazz, Mel's soulful solos added unforgettable layers to Dire Straits' live and studio performanc- es. Together, these legendary musicians alongside other seasoned performers bring the Dire Straits catalogue to the stage with authenticity, precision, and passion. Audiences can expect timeless classics such as Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Money for Nothing, and Broth- ers in Arms performed with the same spirit and virtuosity that made them leg- endary. Ħamrun Music Fest 2025 marks a new chapter in the locality's cultural calendar, combining local pride with international calibre. With a reimagined brand and a world renowned lineup, this year's edition is set to elevate Ħamrun's position as a destination for premier live music events. Call for short stories about Valletta for comma press' reading the city series THE UK-based publisher Com- ma Press, in collaboration with the Na-tional Book Council, is on the lookout for short stories about Valletta for an upcoming anthology: The Book of Valletta. The collection will form part of Comma's 'Reading the City' series, each of which features ten stories by ten different au- thors from the city in question, specially commissioned or never previously trans-lated into Eng- lish – they each offer diverse and conflicting impres-sions of the city, exploring its many distinct boroughs and neigh-bourhoods as well as uncovering its different historical layers, un-locking the subcultures and secrets that ulti- mately make it the city it is. Comma is looking for stories that 'live and breathe' Vallet- ta, and which could not be set anywhere else. They could be set against an event in the city's past, or perhaps explore a street, neighbourhood or landmark en route to telling a compelling tale. The story should touch on things that Valletta's people would be very familiar with, but that read- ers outside of Malta might not be. Crucially, the stories should also work as compelling works of narrative fiction, and not stand as mere 'travel guides' to Valletta. Submission Guidelines Stories should be submitted as Word document or PDF via email to George (Publicity and Mar- keting Officer, Comma Press) at comma-publishing@yahoo.com. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2025. The email title must contain the phrase 'Book of Valletta Sub- mis-sion', or it may be missed. Please note the rules of entry out- lined below. Submissions: • Must be your own original work of fiction • Must not have been pub- lished in English elsewhere • Must be 2,000 – 6,000 words • May be of any genre • Must not contain any libel- lous, blasphemous or copy- righted material • Must not contain symbols, emojis or other unconven- tional text formatting • May be written in Maltese or English The following will NOT be considered: • 'Slice-of-life' stories • Autobiography or medita- tions • Poetry • Reportage or non-fiction • Chapters or excerpts from a longer piece • Stories that could take place in any other city Translation If writing in Maltese, authors are invited to submit the names of up to three preferred transla- tors. Comma Press cannot guar- antee that winning authors will be granted their chosen transla- tor, but their preferences will be taken into consideration. Payment and Rights If selected for publication, au- thors will receive a one-time payment of £100. Authors will re- tain the rights to their story, with the rights to the specific English translation retained by the trans- lator, with all other rights belong- ing to Comma Press. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their work on an inter- national platform that nonethe- less invites a deep dive into the thrilling peculiarities of our his- toric capi-tal city! For more information, read Comma Press' call for sub- missions: https://commapress. co.uk/news/the-book-of-vallet- ta-call-for-stories