Isle Of MTV

Banging tunes, thousands of people throwing shapes and internationally known acts from the music world are the order of the day when sunny Malta becomes the Isle of MTV. Once a year, in late June, this tiny island is transformed into a hot-bed of talent when the  largest free open air concert in Europe - takes place on the Granaries in Floriana.

Not surprisingly, what with it being free and all, it goes down a storm with crowds of around 50,000 people rocking up to see the talent on show. And it’s been that way since the global music behemoth first trundled on to these shores in 2007.

Past superstars of the music industry to have performed at Malta’s Isle of MTV have included the one-and-only Lady Gaga (right before she became super-famous), as well as the Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Kelis, Scissor Sisters, Maroon 5, Enrique Iglesias, Garbage, Morcheeba, One Republic, Gorillaz and N.E.R.D. Another big name turned up to headline the 2011 event when Snoop Dogg took to the stage and wowed the crowds. The 2012 concert featured headline acts including Flo Rida, will.I.am and Nelly Furtado.

Isle of MTV is organised by the music giant in conjunction with the Malta Tourism Authority. Chances are that you might have seen it already because the performances are filmed and edited into a 60-minute special then broadcast across 20 MTV channels throughout Europe.

Since no booking or purchase of tickets is required, as the concert is held free of charge to the audience, it’s first-come, first-served. So, if you’re planning on trotting down to see it we suggest you turn up very early, especially if you want to be ‘down the front’ and get a good view of the action!

Isle of MTV is preceded by Malta Music Week with numerous gigs and parties held all over Malta. For visitors to the Maltese Islands, this is a chance to spend the day sunning themselves at the beach and partying with friends under the stars all night long.

For dance aficianados, look out also for the annual Creamfields music festival on Malta at the back end of August.  Underworld headlined the 2011 gig, which aims to put on the best there is to offer in genres such as trance, house, progressive, tech-house and techno. A truly international line-up has seen the likes of Deadmau5, Cascada, and Carl Craig take to the stage in the past.