Sam Manzanza and Afro Beat Band

Blue Smoke will be open from 5pm and serving up The Brewery's wood fired pizza and hand crafted Cassels & Sons beer all night long.

Doors for the show will be at 8pm

music will get underway around 8:30pm with an opening performance from local soulstress Sayae.

Sam Manzanza has performed his infectious brand of authentic African music to audiences all over the globe. His knowledge of traditional rhythms has been honed by years spent with the national ballet of Zaire ( DR Congo ) under Ray Lema.

Manzanza is largely responsible for the popularization of traditional and modern Africa music in New Zealand. He has enlivened and enchanted many ceremonial occasions at such places as The Beehive, Government House and the Auckland Commonwealth Drum Festival.

A versatile instrumentalist, composer and singer, Sam Manzanza plays blues harp, guitar and percussion and sings in French, English and Lingala. He will be performing with world renown Djembe percussionist, Koffie Fugah and the magnificent Afro Beat Band.

Starting the evening off will be Sayae. Sade Hutana-Sanders is a well rounded musical force. Her sultry, smokey voice has been featured on tracks by various producers and in contexts ranging from jazz, soul, and funk to D'n'B and beyond.