Malta isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think “Blues capital of the world.”

No, rather, it’s a sun-baked speck in the middle of the Mediterranean — three main islands, stone alleys, and centuries of history crammed into 316 square kilometers. But if you know where to look, the blues have a way of finding you, even here.

And sometimes, it comes roaring back out — louder, tighter, and hungrier than you expected. That’s Vinyl Paradise: Ben Bailey on guitar and vocals, Patrick Camilleri on drums, and Antoine Tonna on bass. A blues/blues-rock power trio with the chops to match their influences — Cream, the 3 Kings, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix, and the audacity to make it their own.

Their roots run deep in Malta’s rare musical advantage: free music education for every child. They were nurtured, encouraged, and — in Ben’s case — sparked by a certain video game that put a plastic guitar in his hands and an idea in his head. The toy didn’t last, but the idea did. One day, he was pretending. The next, he was the real thing.

It’s the sort of environment where music isn’t just an afterthought — it’s part of the social fabric. Street festas with brass bands, school programs that hand real instruments to real kids, and a cultural crossroads where Mediterranean rhythm, European melody, and African groove all pass through. Vinyl Paradise grew up in that mix, and you can hear it in the way they play — tight, confident, and unafraid to color outside the lines.

So join us as we take a ride across the Atlantic and the Med to check in on Malta’s blues scene — and meet the island’s number one blues export. You’ll hear the accents, the stories, and the sound that’s already crossing borders.

🎧 Listen now — your ticket to Malta’s salt air, stage lights, and a band built to go global.

Talking Blues with Vinyl Paradise – Listen to the full episode at:

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with Vinyl Paradise:

Website: https://linktr.ee/vinylparadise

Connect with Author | Broadcaster | Podcaster Matt Cooper – Host Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/

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