The band Mala Vita is surely following in the footsteps of the Neapolitan opera composer of Verismo, Umberto Menotti Maria Giordano, who endeavored to music and portray the life of the lower classes without any tint of sentimentalism. Through the same approach, Mala Vita’s performance takes the audience to the gangster world of those olden times.

The modern-day, listener-friendly branch of Verismo finds its embodiment in pub music, namely in Balkan tunes. Instrument-wise this stream favors accordion. That is, Mala Vita is posh but (which means to say ‘and’ – let’s not be snobs) sounds full of heartfelt love for life. The band of self-proclaimed ‘gypsy musicians’ concocts Balkan folk music, rock & roll, polka punk and ska into its own flavor. As an evident consequence the strong rhythm section enlivens and enthuses the audience and the group can quickly penetrate the show-ups’ body and soul with the easily embraceable melodies and intense, blithe performance.

The place adorned randomly with black and white tiles by design is where recently Hans van Vliet has been beaming his presence around, a man who had done more to render this city more livable than the mainstream concerned. The audience in the pub however cares little whether they were here first or Hans and feels at ease. Equipped with a permanent parade of local cuisine, the center of the festival chimes with the traditionally acceptant and open atmosphere. Also, the Dutch-Mediterranean music of the opening forecasts an enjoyable week.