Festahwid Compilations: A Testament to Malta’s Punk Spirit
- Noel Mifsud
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
The Festahwid compilations, released by Reciprocal Records, stand as enduring tributes to Malta’s gritty and passionate underground punk scene. Capturing the anarchic energy of a festival born from necessity and nurtured with community spirit, both compilation albums document a vibrant era of DIY ethos, garage-born bands, and beer-fueled stage dives.
The first compilation, Festahwid Compilation 2002 – It-Taħwid Ikompli, was recorded during the fourth edition of the Festahwid festival at Strings Nightclub. “Malta may be isolated and far away from the rest of the world,” reads the sleeve note by Reciprocal Records, “but this compilation proves that we have the capability to say something through our music.”
The origins of Festahwid trace back to the late 1990s, when punk organizer JP iz-Zghiru and his peers searched for venues to host punk gigs. “At that time I was part of a team who convinced the owner of Dempsey's in Bugibba to open a rock club,” JP explained. “The Edge was then opened and from there I began organising concerts… I came up with the name Festahwid while discussing the idea with friends. The rest is Maltese punk rock history!”
The first compilation featured 22 tracks from 11 bands, all contributing raw and unpolished recordings from the 2002 festival. The album reflected the community’s DIY spirit: “No debts and absolutely no profits. We always used our own equipment… with the party and beer drinking starting at soundchecks.” JP thanked the numerous volunteers who helped, including Matthew in-Nofxu, Chris il-Profeta, and Ray il-Bahri. He added, “If it wasn’t for you (the crew), we’d stay in the garage!”
The featured bands on the first compilation included Disobedience with “Decide” and “Welcome To Babylon”, Vegetables with “Bebbuxu Malinju” and “Hu Dan Il-Maktur Mimli Mahta”, Rakk with “Is-Soluzzjoni” and “No Future”, Subculture with “Bullets” and “Black-White-Yellow-Red”, Totema with “S.O.M.B.” and “Promoting Confusion”, Migraine with “Midnight Express” and “Profitable Loss”, Batteries Not Included with “Inertia” and “Civilisation”, The Abjects with “Sentenced To Live” and “Murderous Technology”, Mass Debate with “Lock” and “Playing With Fire”, The I Skandal with “Raguni” and “Reason And Confusion”, and Rage Against Society with “March Of The Anarchist” and “Anger = Energy.”
Two years later came Festahwid 2, recorded during the sixth edition of the festival. Writing for The Malta Independent in 2006, Michael Bugeja called it “verbally ‘colourful’ and explicitly freewheeling,” capturing the unfiltered attitude of the event. The album featured 18 tracks and underscored a significant rise in Maltese-language punk. Acts like Vixaw, Delli Wah Du, BNI, Dripht, The I-Skandal, and Xtruppaw exemplified this wave, while spoken-word punk and satirical lyricism became staples of the scene.
Reciprocal Records expressed their gratitude
on the CD sleeve: “The first Festahwid Compilation release was the spark that ignited the scene.
With over 200 copies sold, the CD was greatly appreciated for what it stood for… Now the bands got together once again, and with the help of Hell Next Door Studio, this compilation is finally complete.” They added, “So strong is the drive, bands have started off just to play in the festival, but obviously once started, there’s no stopping them.”
They thanked Signals Bar, Steve ‘Lombardo’ Attard, Ray il-Bahri, and designers Jeffrey Galea and Marco Borg for their support. The artwork and sleeve design played a key role in promoting the festival’s sixth edition. “Woody’s raw and spontaneous performance of the event’s unofficial anthem,” wrote Bugeja, “captures the mood perfectly.”
Although the Festahwid festival ended after nine editions, the compilations remain powerful time capsules. They reflect the spirit of rebellion, collaboration, and artistic freedom that defined Malta’s punk scene in the early 2000s. “Recommended for those who still hold the spirit of punk dear to their heart,” Bugeja concluded.
Bibliography:
Il-Mument - 6th November 2011
Festahwid 2 Album Review - Michael Bugeja, The Malta Independent, 21 June 2006
Special thanks to David Cauchi for all the help!
That was a time when it all had to happen, Festahwid was part of a package. A DIY package that included Pissed and Fucked up Zine, and the Anarchist group Azzjoni Pozzittiva. It was the time when most of us where part of the Animal Rights movement. It was the time when most of us had gone back to old school punk. Festahwid was not about music,it was about Attitude and Rebellion. At that time we where a bunch of people United, full of dreams to Change The System. And i Must say that yes we had some victories, but although by time people change, and new ones are in a position of authority, its 'always the same shit b…