MANANA

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THOMAS COOK AIRLINES

WE ARE

MANANA

On the 4th - 6th May 2016 we will be hosting Cuba's first not-for-profit Afro-Cuban and electronic music festival in the musical heartland of Santiago de Cuba. Together with Thomas Cook we aim to open up the East of the island to the international community. 

The festival will showcase electronic music to a young, musically and artistically connected Cuban audience - and in turn will invite international audiences to experience first hand the vitality and energy of the Afro-Cuban folkloric scene. 

Connecting Afro-Cuban folkloric music to the pioneers of the electronic music community

OUR PARTNERS

MANANA (Ma’na’na) is a word that is deeply rooted in Cuban music. Put simply, it is the flow of an artist and the spiritual connection that opens between them and their audience.

DEFINING

MANANA

MANANA has been approved by the Cuban Government and we have secured the incredible Heredia Complex in the heart of Santiago. 

MANANA

IN CUBA

Our team in Cuba have been working closely with musical institutions, securing a line up of some of the most respected Afro-Cuban artists and producers in the country.

MANANA is about presenting the unknown, unrecorded music of Cuba. Music that lives deep within the barrios of Santiago, high up in the Sierra Maestra Mountains & the rich communities of Holguin and Guantanamo. We will be showcasing genres like Guaguanco, Tumba Francais, Abakua and the music of Santería.  These are just as important as the music of Son and Trova, but have remained hidden far from the established tourist trails.

MANANA has secured a selection of incredible partners who are supporting us throughout every stage of the project's development.

MANANA

IN THE UK

These include the likes of NO NATION, who organised the Rift Valley festival in Kenya, programmed the Big Chill, and toured the African Soul Rebels; ethical travel partners CALEDONIA WORLDWIDE; masters of tropical parties and rare re-releases, SOFRITO; seminal UK record label, SOUNDWAY; and the creators of the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon, WORLD CIRCUIT.

We have used this rich network to record our first album (password: chango), film our first Boiler Room Session; organise press in some of the most important publications in the industry and generate buzz for our Kickstarter campaign which smashed our original goal by £7,000.

> KICKSTARTER FUNDS RAISED: £47,095 in 5 weeks via 391 backers

> INTERNATIONAL TICKETS SOLD SO FAR: 263 of 650

> CUBAN TICKETS AVAILABLE: 1,500 (from April 2016)

> UK TICKETS SOLD SO FAR: 115

> BOILER ROOM LAUNCH:  97,000 views in 72 hours

> FACEBOOK PAGE LIKES: 3,000+ in 3 months

> YOUTUBE VIEWS:  10,335 in 3 months

> SOUNDCLOUD LISTENS: 8,262 in 3 months

KEY STATS

Thomas Cook Airlines are invested in opening up new routes that allow travellers to uncover spectacular alternative destinations.

In Cuba, Thomas Cook's route to Holguín has created a gateway to the untapped cultural heart of the island. Perks such as low fares, the inclusion of tourist cards in the ticket price and the fact that you can fly direct from both London and Manchester, have opened up the journey to a rich & diverse audience from two the UK's most important musical hubs.

WHY THOMAS COOK

We would like to use our cultural network to provide your audience with access to the rich and diverse cultural heritage that make the East of Cuba such an important travel destination.

The Manana family is made up of some of the most influential British musicians (Mala, Quantic, Plaid & Adrian Sherwood), producers (Guy Morley - No Nation, Nick Gold - Buena Vista Social Club, Gilles Peterson - BBC) and journalists (Resident Advisor, So It Goes, Songlines) in the industry. Coupled with our strong ties to the Cuban Government and the island's legendary musicians, we are in a unique position to bring the East of the island to life for Thomas Cook's audience.  

THE

OPPORTUNITY

• Promotion of Thomas Cook's Cuban routes

• Visibility on Manana's key digital real estate

• Complementary Manana tickets

• Access to Cuban musicians and tastemakers

• Access to British musicians and tastemakers

• Behind-the-scenes access to the Manana Festival  

WHAT WE

CAN OFFER

By supplying 10 complementary flights, Thomas Cook would allow us to fly over a selection of the finest British musicians and tastemakers, cementing our position as one of the most exciting and pioneering music events on the global music calendar.

As a not-for-profit festival committed to investing in the legacy of the island, Manana are looking for sponsors who are actively involved in the delivery of key aspects of the festival. So far Havana Club have committed to facilitate musical collaborations, Ableton to organise grass roots workshops and Fania Records to bring over musicians. 

WHAT WE

ARE LOOKING FOR

PRESS SO FAR

OUR LINEUP SO FAR

OUR FOUNDERS

MANANA is a non-profit organisation that grew out of a friendship between Londoner, Harry Follett & renowned Cuban musician, Alain Garcia Artola.

Last November Harry moved to Santiago de Cuba with 120kg of studio equipment to record influential folkloric musicians and work alongside Alain to produce and experiment with the local sound. The excitement, curiosity and passion with which the Afro-Cuban community accepted the project was immediate proof that there was room to expand this collaboration into a wider conversation between their respective cultural groups: Afro Cuban folkloric & Electronic Music.

APPENDIX

This is a part of the modern identity of all Cubans - be it their connection to dance and their bodies, their religious beliefs or a way of strengthening bonds in the local community.

​We believe that Afro Cuban folkloric music has a natural and exciting crossover with electronic music, ranging from its direct dialogue with the crowd; its syncopation & swing; its melody drawn from percussive detail and tone; right through to the 8 hour back-to-back sets. But above all they both have a deep love and respect for rhythm. 

AFRO CUBAN FOLKLORIC MUSIC

Obba Tuke Interviews: 5 Interviews with Santiago's Rumberos

The festival will take place at Heredia in the heart of Santiago - a complex with an incredible array of venues & sonic spaces.

Arrangements have also been made with the wider Santiaguero community to ensure that there will be a wealth of cultural, artistic and musical events happening around the city in the lead up to the festival and during the event itself.

Keep scrolling to check out the venues >>

THE

VENUES  

THEATRE

CAPACITY

2,400

1/4

HALL 1

CAPACITY

1,200

2/4

HALL 2

CAPACITY

1,200

3/4

OUTDOOR STAGE

CAPACITY

1,500

4/4

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THANK YOU