Join us at the LEAF Global Experience in Downtown Asheville for a fantastic performance by the incredible Manas Itene! The performance will conclude with Manas’s signature drum circle! People are asked to bring their own instruments to take part though LEAF will have a few ready to be handed out to the audience so they can be involved. Prior to his performance Manas will be leading a drumming workshop at the LEAF Global Experience at 4pm.
Doors Open 6pm, Show Starts 6:30pm
Artist Bio:
Manas Itene is a world-renowned drummer and incredible vocalist on a mission to spread his uplifting
music and message to the world. ‘One Accord’ is Manas’ second studio album. An incredible compilation
of reggae, pop and world-beat that will lift your spirits. The message is simple; we must always seek
beauty and unity in a world that is constantly showing hopelessness.
Manas has been onstage drumming with Michael Franti and Spearhead for 2 decades performing for
audiences of all sizes from Glastonbury and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Paradisio to BottleRock. He has
spent time in the studio with some of the greats, Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship, Babatunde
Olatunjii, bluegrass great and grammy-award winner Peter Rowan just to name a few. He has also shared
a stage with Don Carlos, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and many more.
Manas is a self taught drummer and a gifted vocalist. At age 6 Manas began creating his own drum set on
the streets of a small town in Nigeria with all he could find, an umbrella skin and a tin. He lived next door
to a music venue and would peek through the door learning all he could from the music world and boldly
asking to sit on the drum kit and practice. Manas made his way to the big stage with Nigerian reggae
sensation, Mandators at just 16 years of age.
Manas lives for music and the drum kit. He is a motivated and focussed musician and continues to instil
his lessons and values on the younger generations offering one-on-one mentorship and lessons. Since
the release of One Accord in the summer of 2021 Manas has been taking to the road, stripping it back
and spreading the joy in backyards and events centres across the US. With an epic performance followed
by a drum circle for all skill levels. Manas is sharing the rhythm he plays to!
Wherever you are and whenever we see you, be ready! This is going to be epic!
AN URGENT LETTER FROM THE LEAF BOARD:
For nearly 30 years, LEAF Global Arts has connected people through the power of art, music, and culture. Every shared moment has been made possible because of you – our community.
The LEAF Festival is critical to funding LEAF’s larger work: providing global cultural arts programming for thousands of local youth and preserving cultures and traditions around the world.
This year, we are facing a financial crossroads: between the loss of last fall’s Festival, losing a majority of our arts education funding in 2025, and not fully recovering from COVID, the future is bleak. The upcoming LEAF Festival could be our last if we don’t come together to sustain the heart of LEAF’s mission – but we have seen what this community can do when united for a cause greater than itself.
To open the Festival experience to as many people as possible, and to rally the full spirit of LEAF, we are offering a limited number of LEAF LOVE Tickets at a significant discount.
These special tickets, offered at 30% off (our highest discount, even more so than our Early Bird pricing) are our way of ensuring everyone has a place in this story. Full-priced tickets also remain available for those with the means to give a little more to help support LEAF’s vital work.
Your presence, your voice, and your support matter more than ever right now. Join us in making this LEAF Festival one that the world will never forget and ensuring the music continues for generations to come.
Mayani is a Maasai boy from longido Arusha. He went to boarding school at 6 years old and lost his Maasai language and tradition. Since joining the LEAF program, he has learned to sing Maasai songs, practiced the ‘jump’ tradition and wear Maasai shukas (traditional clothing). Mayani is extremely happy and is currently teaching other youth the culture.