As they prepare to release their lineup of artists, this year’s Open Mic Festival could be the most challenging for the organizers.
They are going head to head with Gee to attract crowds. The country’s numero uno rapper is launching his highly anticipated album,Situations on the 19th December, a week before Open Mic.
Music lovers from far and wide will have to make a choice between the two powerful events set to take place in the same venue, Independence Stadium.
Speaking to What’s On-Gambia, Gee said his album launching will offer Gambians high-class performances that they had never seen in the country.
“Jamaican superstar, Demarco is coming and it will be his first appearance in the country,” he said.
The famous rapper continued: “I want it to be something different. The event starts early at 7PM and everything ends at 1AM. There will be food and drinks.”
Organisers of Open Mic are hoping to convince music fans to return to the stadium after Gee’s event and witness the 7th edition of their annual festival.
“The fate of Open Mic hangs in the balance. Gee is giving them some stiff competition. At this moment, the talk of the town is Gee’s album launching. Let’s wait and see!” said a senior musician, who wants to remain anonymous.
But it looks like the Open Mic team is confident their festival would not suffer and would still be able to attract crowds.
The senior musician added: “They have to offer something new if they want to survive this year. Fans may be bored seeing the same artists at both events.”
Open Mic is the country’s biggest music festival. It attracts more than 100,000 people every year. But recently, it has been criticized for paying artists ‘chicken feed’.