Mann Friday

Mann Friday is an alternative folk rock band founded by Zimbabwean-born musician Rob Burrell in 1997 while at Rhodes University in Zimbabwe. They relocated to the UK in the early 2000s, where they gained traction with expat audiences and released several albums. Their debut, The Orchard, premiered at South Africa’s Grahamstown Arts Festival in 2002 and led to a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival with it’s interpretive rock theatre Zimbabwe Ruins.

Their 2013 album Train Rides and Radio Play charted at #5 in the Netherlands following their move to Holland and a partnership with V2 Records. The 2015 anthem “Say Yeah!” powered a campaign that landed them a performance at Glastonbury Festival’s Rabbit Hole stage.
Mann Friday’s music is deeply inspired by Southern African landscapes and life, blending emotive lyrics with dynamic rock instrumentation. They’ve built a strong catalog over two decades, including fan favourites like “Sunrise Everyday,” “Sunburn & Wonder,” and “Hurricane,” the latter released ahead of their album Bridgenorth Road in 2023.

Their more recent releases include “Caravan in the Mist” (2023), a hopeful and reflective single inspired by a personal journey through Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands. Collaborating with Zimbabwe-based choreographers Michelle & Airbourne, the track’s live-performance video evokes themes of rediscovery and optimism.