Plaid joins the bill for Manana Festival in Cuba

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  • We catch up with the organisers of the Kickstarter-funded project to hear more.
  • Plaid joins the bill for Manana Festival in Cuba image
  • The lineup for the debut edition of Manana Festival in Cuba continues to take shape, with artists from Mexico, Iran and the UK added to the bill. The non-profit festival will be the first event of its kind in Cuba, taking place in the country's second city, Santiago, from May 4th through 6th next year. The aim is to "connect the rich heritage of Afro-Cuban folkloric music to the international electronic music community," pairing the likes of Mala, who was announced earlier this month, with veteran drummer Galis (pictured right), Rumba pioneers Obba Tuke and recent addition Rumba Ache, a Cuban music and dance ensemble. Manana has the full support of the national government. The action will be spread across the Heredia Complex, a sprawling venue with five spaces. Warp Records duo Plaid have been confirmed, along with Mexico's Century and Soul Of Hex, American multi-instrumentalist Chico Mann, LB Produce and Soundway from Britain, and Pouya Ehsaei, an Iranian producer who will double-up as the festival's sound engineer. For more on these artists, check out the Manana-curated playlist below. More acts will be revealed in the coming weeks.
    The organisers are currently raising funds for the festival via Kickstarter. You can contribute to their campaign here. We caught up over email with two members of the team, Londoner Harry Follett and renowned Cuban hip-hop star Alain Garcia Artola, to hear more about the project.
    Where did the inspiration for Manana come from? Follett: Being immersed in both electronic and Afro-Cuban musical culture is definitely where my inspiration comes from; going out, sharing music, experimenting in the studio, learning from Alain and other musicians and exchanging new ideas. I think the main thing is just watching the musicians in Cuba, seeing the way they communicate with each other and the audience. There is something unique about it, this is what inspires Manana. Tell us about the concept behind the festival. Follett: Manana is a dialogue between electronic and Afro-Cuban music that we hope will leave a legacy beyond the festival. It is about connecting Cuban musicians and producers with the most interesting electronic acts around the world and seeing what comes from their collaborations. Since Juan Blanco started composing Cuban electro acoustic music in the 1960s there has always been a small progressive scene on the Island. Manana is about connecting this scene to the international audience, and also inviting western audiences to experience the energy of the thriving Afro-Cuban folkloric scene. Who are some of the local artists involved in the project? Artola (translated from Spanish): One of the things that sets Manana 2016 aside in Cuba's cultural calendar is the festival's emphasis on bringing together Afro-Cuban folkloric bands and artists from different generations in order to protect a common musical essence. On the one hand take Mililian Galis—founder of many of the most important cultural institutions on the island, and one of the last men to still practice the secret rituals of batá drum-making. Galis embodies tradition, and has shared his vast bank for knowledge with many of the most important percussionists on the island. On the other take percussionists, Obba Tuke—pioneers in the genre of rumba, who have learnt to fuse their traditional musical training with modern genres like jazz, hip-hop, son and electronic music. Both acts will be at Manana channelling their unique technical skill, energy and passion for the drum in order to create a music of the future.
    Photo credit: Tom Pratt

    • Wed, May 4, 2016

      Manana Festival

      Nicolas Jaar, A Guy Called Gerald, Dengue Dengue Dengue!, Plaid, GB (Gifted & Blessed), Soul Of Hex, Century, Madam X, Ariwo, Soundspecies, Jose Marquez, Phrased
      Person
      208
RA