In May 2016 MANANA//Cuba became the 1st International electronic festival to take place in Cuba – 10 years later the original team reunite, in association with Jaminaround Festival, to bring a selection of new commissions, DJ Sets and Afro-Cuban Rumba to one of the most atmospheric venues in the UK; Dorset’s Ancient Technology Centre – an underground cave supported by a ring of 21 giant oak tree trunks.
"It’s hard to overstate the amount of work and ingenuity that went into producing MANANA//Cuba, the country’s first international electronic music festival, yet somehow they delivered one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had covering live music" — LA Times
MANANA began as a residency and festival in the historic capital of Santiago de Cuba exploring the lesser known musical roots found in the east of the island. New residencies and commissions with artists like Space Afrika, Yussef Dayes, Nicolas Jaar, Plaid and Pouya Ehsaei, led to Barbican takeovers, club nights and touring international acts like Ariwo. MANANA’s Co-Founder went on to co-create the live improvisation series, Parasang, and set up the London club, Space289.
MANANA’s 10 year anniversary will celebrate the artists and original collaborations that came out of the festival, alongside the development of MANANA//Labs — a week-long residency of pure exploration and experimentation between Afro-Cuban musicians, live-electronic and improvisational acts.
We will also be fundraising for cultural projects run by members of MANANA’s original team in Santiago de Cuba, who despite the horrific conditions currently being experienced on the island, continue to resist and support artists there.
NEW COMMISSIONS
⦿ ORI SI ORON is the project of Yusniel Martinez Carranza, José Antonio Molina and Gerardo de Armas, who was part of Yoruba Andabo; arguably the most influential Rumba group of the last 30 years. This new commission, working with guest Cuban musicians in London, will reimagine the monumental works of rumba group Los Papines uniquely for this event.
⦿ FRANK PORTUONDO grew up playing Changüí in his home town of Guantanamo. In this new set he explores the hypnotic bass marimbula lines and cutting counter rhythms of this incredible, and rarely heard, music.
MANANA//Festival COMMISSIONS
⦿ ARIWO brings together Pouya Ehsaei - hailed by Boomkat as belonging “in that precious pile” of Iranian electronic music composers - and two of London’s most influential Cuban musicians; Irakere’s Latin Grammy winning “percussion virtuoso” Hammadi Valdes, and figurehead of London’s Cuban music scene Oreste Noda - who originally came to London as Hugh Masekela’s percussionist.
“A formidably integrated sonic terra incognita guided only by a hypnotic and dubwise focus on forward motion" - THE WIRE
⦿ Production duo SOUNDSPECIES will re-explore the work they created alongside Ache Meyi, which was undoubtedly one of the highlights from the original festival.
MANANA//LABS (co-curated with Nymity)
In development — more acts to be announced.
⦿ ABI ASISA is a London producer and electroacoustic cellist who is part of the Life Is Beautiful collective where she has worked with artists like Bianca Scout, ML Buch, Astrid Sonne and Coby Sey.
⦿ FEEO is one of the most exciting new experimental artists, singer/songwriter feeo has recently released on AD 93 and collaborated with artists like Caius Williams and Lorraine James.
DJ SETS
⦿ MI-EL is a deeply personal and varied DJ selector who draws from all corners to move dancefloors and connect past & present, through Pulling Threads, her NTS residency, sound installations and DJ sets.
⦿ ADAM RACUBAH is one of the core pillars of the Manana team and the deepest of DJ selectors.
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TRANSPORT AND ACCOMODATION
The Ancient Technology Centre is in Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5RP, a 2hr drive from London, or 1hr 30mins from Bristol.
The nearest train stop is Salisbury (15 miles from the site), which has regular direct services from London Waterloo, Southampton, Exeter St Davids and Bristol Temple Meads.
National Express has a service from London Victoria which stops at Ringwood (10 Miles from site) on the way to Bournemouth and Poole.
Local Taxi services are available but it is advisable to organise these in advance. Taxi numbers: 01725516334 / 01202822282 / 01202813672
Camping is included for free in the Festival ticket, but there are two reasonably priced BnB’s (The Compass and Horton Inn) within a 10 minute drive from the site.
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ABOUT JAMINAROUND
Jaminaround is a two-night festival of music and performance, bringing internationally acclaimed artists to perform and entertain in the uniquely inspiring setting of Cranborne Earthouse. Although the MANANA//Cuba takeover is on Saturday, there is also another event the following day which can be purchased for a discounted price.
Get tickets and full event details
