What does an evening sound like when two completely different musical languages meet? On 25 June, Malta Festival invites you to experience concerts unfolding at the intersection of contrasts – between expression and minimalism, improvisation and restraint.

Imagine two performances moving in opposite directions. First, you enter a space where music flows freely, shifting shape and resisting easy classification. Then everything slows down, becomes more focused, built on detail and emotion. Two distinct worlds – separate, yet sharing the same space.

On stage: Devendra Banhart, one of the defining voices of the “freak folk” and “New Weird America” movements. An artist who has collaborated with Yoko Ono, Caetano Veloso, ANOHNI, and Beck, he has long resisted categorisation. His music blends acoustic textures, psychedelic harmonies, and a deeply personal sensibility, while his concerts unfold as intimate, unpredictable narratives. Banhart returns to Malta Festival after two decades.

He is joined by MARO, a Portuguese artist who has built a global audience in recent years, collaborating with Jacob Collier and performing worldwide. Her music is minimal in form but emotionally precise – intimate compositions that unfold with quiet intensity and linger long after the final note.

25 June is one of four concert days of Malta Festival 2026. The programme also features Benjamin Clementine, Beirut, The Blaze, The Blessed Madonna, HAAi, Charlie Cunningham, Kacperczyk, and Two Door Cinema Club. From 25 to 28 June, the Poznań International Fair will transform into a space for concerts that move across different musical worlds – with more to be announced soon!