This month marked the start of a new Maltese-organised concert series in Kyiv which aims to help foster the local scene while showing international solidarity with the war-torn city.
Storeroom Music Collective, a new brand from Ta’ Xbiex’s Storeroom music venue, recently hosted its first concert at a large bookstore in Kyiv’s Expo Centre, with plans for a regular monthly series.
The collective is the brainchild of Maltese saxophonist and Storeroom founder Carlo Muscat, who has been based in Kyiv for several years and who sees the new concert series as a way of filling a gap in the Ukrainian capital’s music scene.
“I wanted to provide a performance space which is fun, easily accessible, professional but not elite – it’s about striking a balance as much as possible,” Muscat said.
He explained that the new concert series is designed to fit between established venues with packed-out audiences and schedules, and offerings that, while more accessible, “are not what you would choose”.
And Muscat has a good knowledge base when it comes to venues. Malta’s Storeroom has grown over the years to become a thriving mainstay in the Maltese music scene, hosting a diverse range of regular performances – something Muscat is keen to replicate in Kyiv.
“There is a little bit of a gap in the style of what we do in Malta… There are almost no venues like that here,” he said, speaking via video call from the Ukrainian capital.
“One of things I want to show Ukrainian people is that there is support from foreigners, that people are thinking about them”
“We’re in a good position with the venue in Malta and have managed to help the local scene grow; that was the original idea for storeroom – that I didn’t think that there was enough happening on the scene, or enough opportunities for musicians.”
Another important aspect of the Storeroom Music Collective is its international appeal – something Muscat explained was reflected both in its line-up, but also in its message.
“One of things I want to show Ukrainian people is that there is support from foreigners, that people are thinking about them,” he said.
“For foreign people who are living here, it’s hopefully like getting a little bit closer to the international community – or, at least, bringing the international community a little bit closer together.”
And Muscat explained how he had noticed more foreign audience members on nights he performed, something which “makes sense; people get curious”.
‘Beautiful space’
Turning to the location for the concerts, the saxophonist described the ‘book.ua’ bookstore as a “beautiful space”, with seating and lounge areas, tables and refreshment facilities and in a “great location”.
“They have everything, and they gave us one of their best times – Saturday evening,” he said, adding the venue was also equipped with speakers and a mixer.
And with the concerts happening under the Storeroom name, hosting the performances in a space not traditionally used for music events helps avoid any clashes with his Ta’ Xbiex venue – something Muscat noted could prove important should he decide to repeat his Maltese venture.
“Eventually, if we decide to go ahead with opening a venue here [Kyiv], there’s already a little bit of push,” he said, adding that while he does not envisage bringing Maltese musicians to perform in the series in the foreseeable future, he does not write it off for the future.
Powercut album
The Storeroom Music Collective series of performances comes against the backdrop of Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, now entering its third year.
Amid the ongoing attacks, which have already spread to Kyiv, power cuts, air‑raid sirens and travel restrictions for men of conscription age have reshaped daily life and working conditions for musicians.
Despite the reality of war, however, Muscat said that “what is really spectacular is if you didn’t know something was going on, you wouldn’t realise it”, with concerts and other artistic activities even taking place amid the power cuts.
Recalling a recent album recording, he explained how the venue had maintained operations using a generator: “We were there at nine in the morning and the light came back on at 5pm; I mixed the album through blackouts”.
Muscat and his colleagues even performed at a week-long music festival in Dnipro, a city around 100 kilometres from the front lines.
Nonetheless, there are times when the war feels closer: “You have to take the sirens more seriously, because attacks are closer.”
Asked about the release of the album, Muscat said he was still finalising arrangements but hinted at possible promotional videos ahead of its launch, giving audiences a look behind the scenes at the record’s unorthodox creation.
‘I will host, but it’s Ukrainian musicians’
For now, however, he is busy with the Storeroom Music Collective concerts, focusing on programming, promotional materials and building the brand’s online presence in both Ukrainian and English to reach locals and Kyiv’s international community.
Looking ahead to future concerts – the first featured Muscat, Oleksandr Malushev on keys, bassist Kostiantyn Ionenko and drummer Pavlo Halytskyi – the saxophonist said the series would mainly feature Ukrainian musicians, with Muscat presenting and introducing the concerts.
“I will physically host and present the musicians, but it’s Ukrainian musicians,” he said, adding that by also presenting the concerts in English, it could help attract the international audience the series is partly aimed at.
And while the war makes long-term planning uncertain, Muscat’s vision for the Storeroom Music Collective in Ukraine is clear: a Malta-born concept brought to a city under attack aiming to provide new opportunities for locals and a new, shared space for international audiences.
