For a few hours, a concealed corner of Valletta is set to get a taste of Cuba thanks to a much-anticipated performance by HosKuban at the Mae West in Strait Street on Wednesday the 14^th of June at 8:30pm.

This outdoor performance will be held in what is undoubtedly one of Valletta’s best kept secrets: the magnificent courtyard of the Mae West bar in the section of Strait street better known as The Gut.  The venue, which can hold an audience of some 300 people, will be hosting HosKuban’s second ever performance, having blown audiences away at their debut show during 2022’s Notte Bianca with their blend of Afro-Cuban rythyms, Mambo, Salsa and Jazz.  The members of HosKuban are all seasoned and veteran Jazz musicians with a penchant for the ‘Cuban Sound’ (the modified Maltese translation becoming HosKuban).  These include Adrian Galea Lucas on Congas and percussion, Adrian ‘Ir-Russu’ Brincat on Trumpet, Warren Galea on guitars, Emanuel Pulis on drums, Gregory Camilleri on piano, Walter Vella on saxophone and flute, Anthony ‘Il-Fesu’ Saliba on bass and Joseph Camilleri Jnr. ‘Il-Bibi’ on percussion.  Those attending the event will be regaled with an entire set list suffused with the best of Cuban/Jazz music, including standards such as Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie & Chano Pozo Gonzalez), Mambo Inn (Mario Bauza’,Grace Sampson, Bobby Woodlen), Caravan (Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington), as well as Chucho Valdez’s Mambo Influenciado, amongst many others.  Needless to say, bringing one’s dancing shoes to the event is practically mandatory.

Entrance to is free of charge.  This event is an initiative within the Valletta Cultural Agency’s Strada Stretta programme.