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Michaela Muscat
They are deprived of their liberty, but that will mean they will enjoy a mini rock concert all on their own at the Corradino Correctional Facility, when rock band Dripht will be playing to the 18 or so inmates in the juvenile section on 21 December.
It will be the first time ever that the young prisoners aged between 16 and 23 – mostly jailed for petty thefts triggered by their drug addictions – will be treated to their own Christmas festivities, and to mark the change the organiser of the event went for some “trendy” music that is popular with youth and adolescents, a stark contrast with the yearly ghana party organised for all prisoners on previous years.
“Dripht were chosen because they are a trendy band and some of the adolescents in the juvenile section are fans of this genre of music,” said Fr Mark Montebello of the prison support group Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl.
For Dripht, accustomed to playing Paceville venues packed with students, this will be an opportunity to perform to a different audience. And with their lyrics strongly laced with political messages, it promises to be an exciting event for the band members themselves.
“We’re honoured and excited,” said Dripht lead singer and guitarist Nicky Morales. “Honoured, because being a band with a message of social justice and freedom, we think that it is our duty to play in non-commercial concerts with a social implication. Excited, because this is the first time that we shall enter prison in our lives. We hope to have a good time and that the inmates and workers at CCF will enjoy our music.”
The singer said his band believes “viable alternatives to imprisonment should be given more importance” as they benefit the inmates, victims and society in general.
“We need more community work and probation,” he said.
Across the years, musicians from various fields – committed to honouring their societal commitment – including Johnny Cash and John Lee Hooker have played historic concerts in prisons abroad.
mmuscat@mediatoday.com.mt
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