Welcome to the first ever season of Dragonfly Farm Sessions.

This is your opportunity to join us at this beautiful, modern (approximately 538 years younger than our festival home) architecturally designed café set in the High Weald area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here we are combining a menu of delicious farm-fresh produce using locally sourced ingredients, with a smooth jazz duo. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind, enjoy great food, and soak up the beautiful surroundings.

Tucked into the Kent countryside in Speldhurst, Dragonfly Farm has quickly become one of those places people discover and immediately want to return to. With its striking modern café building, sweeping countryside views and peaceful setting, it feels made for long summer evenings. Now, as part of The Festival Theatre’s growing programme of events, the space will transform into an intimate live music destination where guests can unwind, while listening to world-class musicians perform as the sun sets over the fields.

Mina Mano is a London-based collective led by Lisa Marini and Arthur Newell. At its core is the chemistry between Marini’s expressive, warm vocals and Newell’s dynamic Spanish guitar playing, which together create rich, atmospheric music perfectly suited to the setting .

Their musical style draws heavily from Latin traditions; bossa nova to flamenco, while seamlessly weaving in elements of jazz, soul, and contemporary pop. This fusion gives Mina Mano a ‘sunset lounge’ feel: relaxed, vibrant and sophisticated. Arthur’s guitar playing often provides both rhythm and melody, using percussive strumming and intricate pizzicato adding his own unique style to the pieces. Meanwhile, Lisa Marini’s voice carries a smoky, intimate tone, equally suited to classic standards and modern songs.

Their repertoire reflects this versatility. They reinterpret timeless songs: Fly Me to the Moon to Ain’t Got That Swing with a Latin twist, slower tempos, syncopated rhythms, and subtle guitar flourishes that transform the familiar into something unexpected. Modern hits such as Toxic by Briney Spears and Amy Winehouse Back To Black are reimagined with sultry grooves and acoustic textures, while more delicate pieces; Songbird by Fleetwood Mac are delivered with emotional restraint and minimalism, highlighting the duo’s sensitivity and control.

In addition to covers, Mina Mano also perform original compositions that reflect their cross-cultural influences and highlight their ability as a song writer and composer in their own right. These originals often lean into storytelling and romance, further defining their unique musical style.

‘The Mina Mano Band are ideal for stylish events, and audiences seeking something both familiar and refreshingly different.’ GT 2025

There is something wonderfully simple about the idea behind Dragonfly Farm Sessions. Beautiful music and a relaxed countryside setting where people can properly slow down for an evening.

Dragonfly Farm is located on Langton Road, Speldhurst, TN3 0NR. Accessible parking is available in the café car park, and visitors parking nearby are kindly asked to respect local residents.