Facebook group challenges concert regulations

‘DOQQ ­– Front tas-salvagwardja tal-muzika live’ (‘PLAY – Front to safeguard live music’) was founded this week, and has amassed over 700 members on the social networking site by the time of going to print.

Founded by Mario Vella and Pawlu Borg Bonaci – members of local bands Brikkuni and Fakawi, respectively – the group has released a detailed ‘action plan’, in which Vella and Borg Bonaci outline the aims of the group and explain the key motivations behind it.

Specifically, the musicians make reference to the €50,000 police guarantees bands are forced to fork out before organising a concert, as well as recent controversies regarding alcohol sale, which could seriously hamper the organisation of independent local events. According to the document, despite these restrictions, the risk of an event being shut down by the police at a moment’s notice remains a persistent worry for musicians.

“We suspect that these legal measures stem from a general ignorance of the musical sub-cultures that are found beyond the country’s more ‘traditional’ musical output. Also, we suspect that the situation is further exacerbated by the lack of any efficient structures in place, which would fully understand how local musicians are made to shoulder the burden of organising a concert – and everything that that entails – by themselves.

“Whatever the reason, we fully believe that musicians can’t remain passive in the face of all of this. It can’t be the case that the musical sector – a sector traditionally associated with freedom of expression – remains silent in the wake of such developments (if you can even call them that),” the document says.

Vella and Borg Bonaci suggest three key problems which lie at the heart of the entire issue. Apart from the aforementioned police guarantee and the complications related to alcohol sale, the document also calls for the police to refrain from shutting down events based on the tiniest complaint.

“We fully understand that excessive noise can be problematic in residential areas. What we don’t understand is how the police reserve the right to halt a performance based on even the most arbitrary of complaints. Given the size of our island, it is inevitable that some noise will slip through… and the authorities can easily find more specific alternatives towards assessing the situation.”

Finally, “and in light of Malta’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2018”, the group has suggested that the government provide a legally sanctioned and fully operational venue which local performers would be allowed to run at their own initiative without the fear of being stopped by the police.

The group has so far gathered a healthy momentum. Musicians and fans have stepped forward to express their support and even offer their services to help DOQQ’s cause: apart from the band's expressing their solidarity and support, the group has also attracted writers, designers and video/sound editors willing to help out in any way they can. 

You say you want a revolution

DOQQ rapidly mobilised key players within the local musical scene. Here’s what some of them said about this grassroots development.

Danjeli Schembri

DJ and Brikkuni keyboardist

“In Malta you always come across obstacles if you want to play live. In fact, you’re treated as a criminal straight away: you have to go to the police and show your ID card… the problem is that music is considered to be secondary, and that authorities will not make it easy for you because they see  it as something ‘extra’. And even though a Council for Culture exists, I get the impression that it’s locked in constant battle with other councils.”

Toni Sant

Musician, academic and blogger

“The problem with Malta (as compared to some other European countries) is that we have very outdated legal frameworks within which cultural expression (in all its forms) takes place. In my view, Maltese legal authorities – as monolithic entities – are yet to see the true value of Maltese musicians to social life and the economy… to say nothing of the significance for the development of our national cultural identities.

“Social media networks enable more people to be aware and active in any particular cause… in this case, it will undoubtedly give the people involved in this initiative a louder voice and a stronger platform to stand on than anyone in the same position could have had even just five years ago.”

Wayne Flask

DJ and blogger

“Why, I ask myself, is a gigantic event like the Isle of MTV allowed to continue past 11pm in a residential zone while our own talent has issues with a gig [last year’s ‘Wirdien’] in a field in Mtarfa kilometres away from the closest house? Let’s be realistic: our music scene is largely composed of smaller bands who don’t afford to pay the guarantees imposed by law. An open air event featuring three Maltese bands does not necessarily mean it will have the same turnout of Isle of MTV. You cannot put both in the same category.

“Local musicians face struggles that shouldn't even exist: first it was about getting their music played on the radios, and now for the freedom to perform. If DOQQ and the authorities concerned can enter into a dialogue on all the regulation issues, then this group can bring about much needed change.”

Toni Attard

Creative Economy Advisor, Ministry of Finance

“It’s a whole cycle that’s affected: from sponsorships to audiences, with financial and legal repercussions that impacts the independent scene.

“At the end of the day, a healthy creative scene requires all types of music events, all genres and created by all types of groups – from village band clubs to VJs. Of course, issues of health and safety need to be catered for but there are various ways and means how to do this. We need to ensure that the right information is given out and rules that negatively effect this situation are examined and changed.”