It’s not every day you hear of a child opening music festivals across Europe. Or teaching advanced adult musicians. Or juggling live performances every week. But Ibni Rocks is doing all of that and more.
At just ten years old, Ibni isn’t interested in waiting until he grows up. He’s already living the kind of life most musicians dream of. Performer. Teacher. Composer. Founder. His schedule is packed, his passport full, and his handpan always tuned.
“I want my songs to be as famous as ‘Happy Birthday,’” Ibni said when he was just seven.
Handpan, Passport, and Purpose: Ibni’s Summer So Far
Ibni’s summer calendar is like a world tour. From island festivals to London’s music halls, he’s been performing non-stop. Here are just some of his standout moments:
June: HONA Handpan Festival, Naxos, Greece
- Opened the intimate handpan festival organised by Stephanie Bender, Angelos Katselis, Kosmin Spinu, and Giorgo Christakis.
- Taught an advanced workshop for adult players.
- Dates for HONA 2026 have already been confirmed (28 May – 3 June). Ibni’s on the list to give a workshop.
June: Perun Handpan Festival, Poland
- Quickfire two-day appearance.
- Rushed back to London right after to attend The Magic Circle’s 120-Year Celebration.
- Booked to perform again for Perun 2026.
July: Semley Music Festival, Somerset, UK
- Scheduled to perform and teach two handpan workshops.
- Semley Music Festival calls itself the “small festival with big ideas.” Sounds like a great match.
September: Westminster Music Library, Soho, London
- A chance for Londoners to experience Ibni’s “Infinity” album and other songs in a quieter, unplugged setting.
Ibni Rocks Live: Where He’s Played and Who He’s Played With
He’s no stranger to the spotlight. Ibni has already performed with artists like:
- Kabeção
- Alexandre Lora
- Mobius Loop
- Mumi
- And festival-goers have seen him live at:
- HONA Festival, Greece
- Wild Naya Handpan Academy
- Perun Festival, Poland
- Swiss Handpan Festival
- Canarias Handpan Festival
- GRIASDI Austria
- Pantribe Festival, Belgium
- HangOut UK
- Small World Festival, England
- Sofar Sounds, England
- Semley Music Festival, England
- Blesspan Handpan Festival, Italy
- Singading, Spain
His performances exhibit rhythm, melody, and playfulness, all executed with serious skill. A skilled magician one day, a workshop teacher the next… Ibni’s skills are as fascinating as they are surprising.
The Handpan Music Academy™
Ibni isn’t just playing gigs. He’s built an academy. From his handpan studio, he’s started Handpan Music Academy™, which offers residential placements for advanced musicians, inviting them to live, learn, and create in his private studio. These sessions include exploring rhythm, phrasing, improvisation, and so much more. The artists who attend see him as a peer.
The academy also runs group workshops throughout the year. These are structured for beginners and intermediate players, covering everything from basic hand techniques to building musical confidence. D Celtic handpans are provided for the duration of the workshops.
Each session is kept small to ensure focused, hands-on guidance. Aspiring musicians leave his workshops feeling inspired and ready to play with heart and technique.
Ibni quotes Hans Christian Andersen, “Where words fail, music speaks,” highlighting the significance of not just the handpan, but the intimacy and soul connection of music with individuals and communication.
Music Meets Magic: Ibni’s Other Life on Stage
When he’s not behind a handpan, he’s probably performing illusions. Ibni is the residential magician at Cloud Nine Magic. He has performed his illusion show at Platform, The Egg Theatre in Bath. He is travelling to learn from the best magicians at FISM 29th World Championship of Magic in Italy next week. His love for theatre started early, with performances in Shaftesbury Noire at Shaftesbury Arts Centre and The BFG at the Bristol Academy of Drama.
He combines the two worlds often. Some shows feature both his music and his sleight of hand. Why pick just one when you can master both?
What’s Next?
- Germany: an unplugged concert featuring his second album, Dragonfly
- England: a solo performance at Westminster Music Library
- More workshops, more festivals, and more music from the Infinity and Dragonfly Album Tour.
Summary
Passion doesn’t wait for permission. Ibni Rocks isn’t waiting to grow up to chase his dreams. He’s doing it all now, touring Europe, releasing albums, teaching grownups, performing magic, and building an academy. Every note he plays and every workshop he teaches adds to a growing body of work that’s inspiring people across ages and borders.
Want to see what music’s future looks like? You’ll find it sitting behind a handpan. Probably wearing a wizard hat.
