We are back on Holtense soil. Taxiing, getting out, collecting baggage, collecting car/bus and loading in a record time of 30 minutes! Three laps on the roundabout and three exits at a junction to take a right turn. The way back went pretty smooth.

During the trip back, Stanley sent the reaction of the Dutch ambassador to our performance: You gave a genius performance, thank you for that.

Put it in your pocket! #proud

We also received a video of the song Speedy during the festival.

Al good things come to an end! Unfortunately.

But we can look back on a fantastic trip. Our expectations were high. Have they come true? More than! Top arranged trip, donders beautiful performances, incredible laughter, discovered Malta, many and beautiful reactions from public!

Choose a highlight? Performance during the Connecting through Culture festival? The boat trip? Making music together with the Italian fanfare? Who the f # ck is Alice in the karaoke bar? Or playing from the boat? No, I cannot choose. One big highlight!

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed directly or indirectly to this trip. Thanks!

Oh yeah, the picture at the top of this message (© Argibald). Getting the Braandheultjes to Malta was one of Stanleys bucket list items. CHECK!

On Sunday we went on boat trip along several beautiful places along the coast of Malta. We anchored in beautiful bays where we swam. And because we had the instruments, we could play a some songs. That gave beautiful scenes. A orchestra playing from a boat in a sun-drenched setting! We loved it!

• Playing from the boat

• Heavy metal

Saturday night it was time fot the main goal of this trip: The Connecting through Culture festival. The first tent that we encountered was the one of the Germans with Beer and Bratwust. Afterwards and row of tents from Ghana to Italy and from China to Australia. In the middle there was a stage where various acts could be seen. Think of a Japanese, female, Sea Sick Steve, Italian fanfare and Chinese sword dance. Dressed in orange polos, of course, we played the first set of typically Dutch songs. ‘t Dondert en ‘t bliksemt, Kwestie van geduld en Amsterdam medley. Despite the fact that a few people clapped on the back rows, the atmosphere was very quiet. The dignitaries, including the mayor, were in the front row. Being tied to a stage is not entirely our cup of tea, but we tried to entertain the public as much as possible. After a few refreshments were arranged and we became friends with the Germans #BierUndBratwurst it was time for the second set. Goal was now Dutch gezelligheid, so we tried every trick to entertain: party songs, lying on stage making cycling-moves, brassplayers walking around, public interaction and musicians among the audience. Very mutch old Dutch gezelligheid and enthusiastic audience. Even a request for a bonus (of course). In short it went crazy!

• Photos of the performance

An Italian orchestra played after us. Inspired by our loose way of playing, the pelvisist (what a beautiful musicians they are !!!) went completely crazy! First restrained by the conductor, but later: 100% entertainment! The public got a great finish to this festival. But it ain’t over until the fat lady sings, because immediately afterwards the true Connecting Through Culture feeling arose spontaneously. The Braandheultjes and the Italian band played various songs together. They had never played together, the one from paper and the other by head, but together there were beautiful songs. (see video 3). Even during the photoshoot it was not only a visual moment (see video 4). What a great ending to the festival!

• Performance 1 De Braandheultjes
• Performance 2 De Braandheultjes
• Everybody – Blues Brothers together with Italian
• Songs during photoshoot: Reebokje & O sole mio

• Grouphoto together with Italian band

On Saturday it was time to explore the southern part of the island. First to the Blue Grotto where you can see beautiful blue water during a boat trip.

Then to a beautiful viewpoint. Along the way we saw many walls of piled stones. Wilco couldn’t stop talking about them. So if you see a wall like it in Holten soon …

And finally to Mdina. A town built as a fort. This was the former capital and is wonderful to wander through.

Boy o boy, that was crazy at Open Waters! In the beginning, it was mainly the Dutch who sang along with the songs. Zondag in het zuiden for someone from the province of Limburg and Amsterdam medley for a Mokumer (Amsterdammer). But at the second set a large group of French became very enthusiastic. Audience on the chairs, Heultjes on the tables, everyone participated: one big party! At the end we played Griechischer Wein, a song that we do not play that often, but that made a difference! The French wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders and sang a French text in full chest. Later someone came to thank us for playing a Portuguese song. “Which one then?” we asked. It turned out to be the Griechischer Wein. In short, a song that knows half of Europe.

• Griechischer Wein
• Movie made by the owner

Afterwards in the conversations came to the usual you have to come to … Only this time with more exotic destinations: Abu Dhabi, a 40-years wedding in Malta and Japan. If one of them goes through … Finally we went to cool off in the sea. And oh well … if you hold the instruments anyway, you can play just as well. Afterall a fantastic day. Saturday the Connecting Through Culture festival.

The program did not end last night after the previous post. After finding the right hotel – a story on itself- we went to drink one more beer. We struggled through the entertainment street and past all the proppers. Several invitations for a Gentlemens club were rejected, despite the fact that you had to feel sorry for some ladies: apparently the square meter price for clothing in Malta is quite high!

After having a quick spice at the pub where we play tonight, we have tasted good on the trip with a low-calorie beer. Stanley also received his Friends of Stanley Live shirt.

Ah, and when we went back to the hotel it was 4.00 o’clock.

This morning at 10.00 am we left by bus and water taxi to Valletta center. It was very hot so early and after the water taxi everyone already had a sweatty buttock (no picture)  After a walk through the beautiful city (people, come to Malta!) We settled down on a terrace in the shade. The temperature was now well above 30 °C.

After the return trip and a nice sandwich, we went to use our beautiful pool.

We have concluded that the artist’s life is not that bad: hang out in the pub until the middle of the night, sleep a little bit, go lounging around a bit, sit down on a terrace, take a dive into the pool, eat and later: Turn the bar upside down with a performance during the Dutch hoempapa night at Open Waters.

We are looking forward to it!!!

It is now long after midnight, but we have arrived in Malta! After a great trip and without detours, pretty good in Belgium: tribute to the drivers, the first hurdle: Checking in luggage.

• • The drivers

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