Big names for Mahalia’s Corner

Each year, Mahalia’s Corner grows from strength to strength.

However with each step of progress its organisers strive to ensure it stays true to its roots.

The live platform was born out of a discussion between Two Mile lead singer Mahalia and band mate Andre Clarke. The event started at Bump ‘n Wine Café as an open mic for artistes.

Since then it has blossomed into much bigger venues including the Nedhams Point Ballroom at the Hilton Barbados to the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

And this year the stakes increase as acts including The Mighty Gabby, Alison Hinds, Trinidadian Kerwin Du Bois, the Three Kings; Alix Cage, John Yarde and Raphael Saul and Ch’An are expected to perform.

In addition to the open mic, the event also features a spotlight artiste section.

“With anything that’s growing, it’s always a challenge to hold on to the authenticity of where it started and for me I think a lot of that lies in the open mic session and the spotlight artiste sections.

She was speaking during a press launch at Wine World Warrens where she Andre and Kris Clarke announced the 2018 line-up.

“I don’t think we would ever have a Mahalia’s Corner that does not have an open mic . . . apart from that we kind of just try to keep our personalities at the fore,” Mahalia said on Monday.

And it’s always going to have that natural family element and hopefully that will be enough to hold on to the intimacy and authenticity that we started with,” the entertainer said.

The concert series returns on September 2. (TG)