Big Band Brothers bring Maltese music and language to Riyadh

Big Band Brothers received an enthusiastic reception in Riyadh on 14 September 2026, representing Malta at the third edition of EU Music Week. As the first Maltese band to perform at JAX, the group brought Malta’s music, language and culture to a new audience.

Held at The Warehouse in Riyadh’s JAX district, the concert featured Ibħra (Seas), a production combining live music and storytelling to explore Malta’s relationship with the sea. A distinctive feature of the performance was its focus on the Maltese language, introducing listeners to Malta through the words and sounds of its songs. Drawing on historical accounts and legends, the programme connected life on the islands with wider Mediterranean experiences of travel, migration and the longing for home.

The repertoire included familiar Maltese songs such as Id-Dgħajsa tal-Latini, Inti Djamant and L-Għanja tas-Sajjied. Stories of Calypso and Saint Paul’s shipwreck accompanied reflections on fishing traditions, Maltese emigration and the experiences of people crossing the Mediterranean today. The music and narratives presented the sea as a source of livelihood and inspiration, but also a place of separation and loss.

The audience responded warmly, with particularly positive reactions to hearing Maltese sung on stage. The performance also sparked conversations about Malta, its language and its cultural identity, giving listeners an opportunity to discover more about the country through its musical heritage.

The band’s stay in Riyadh was sponsored and facilitated by Arts Council Malta, and the group was accompanied by Dr Kurstin Gatt, Senior Lecturer, Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Malta who coordinated the visit. The performance was supported by the European Union Delegation to Saudi Arabia and the Embassy of Malta in Riyadh.

The performers acknowledged the contribution of the EU Delegation, Arabia Pictures, Saudi Music Hub and The Warehouse in making the event possible. They extended special thanks to Malta’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Roberto Pace; Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, Mr. James Gauci; and Ms. Erica Borg at the EU Delegation for their support.