The Tribune

By FARAH INSIDE the Dragon's Lair there is a high risk of getting burned, but not by actual fire. No, at this show it's the searing rhymes and hot vocals by seasoned as well as and up and coming artists that bring the heat at Bain Town's hot spot, the Polo Yard. The Dragon's Lair open mic night has become a regular Wednesday event for artists to showcase their talent. Aimed at fostering community spirit, the mic at the Dragon's Lair is open for everyone. "We call this show Dragon's Lair because the people that hit the stage must come with fire. In other words, if you are a rapper your lyrics must be tight, if you are a singer you must hit the right notes, and if you are poet you must speak words that evoke thought and emotion," said Ryan Adderley who works closely with the Bain Town outreach programme. "I know when people hear Bain Town they probably think the area is unsafe. We want people to know the show is in Bain Town but it is very safe. The people who live in the community know that this is a positive event. This is something we want to work out in other communities in New Providence. It is desperately needed all over Nassau. The people of Bain Town have been saying how positive this event is and this is a different way of doing things and targeting people," said Mr Adderley. Dragon's Lair was conceived by three childhood friends and residents of Bain Town - Craig Gibson, Sidney Moss and Marco Beckford. The show started about two years ago, however, its appeal has grown significantly over the past three months, according to organisers. Bahamian artists such as Jah Torah, Citizen, Daddy Ridge, Zoediac, Baigon, Dubb, Sasha Dunn and many more have graced the stage at the Polo Yard. Although established Bahamian artists have performed at Dragon's Lair, the open mic show serves as a launching pad for new performers. "An event like this allows youth in community to come out and view some positive musical acts and to come up to the mic and put their musical act together. The event also adds a venue for new and obscure artists to present their music without any form of bias," said musician Sasha Dunn. Artists who wish to perform at the event simply notify the master of ceremonies before or during the show. "We want to promote local artists and their work. When artists come to the show and perform we are able to see the progression in their performances. This event allows people to see what Bahamians are capable of," said Mr Adderley. And organisers also strive to keep the atmosphere family friendly. "There is absolutely no cursing. This is our biggest rule because there are kids who come out to watch the show. We also encourage people to better themselves because there are other ways you can get your message across without using profanity," he said. The Dragon's Lair plans to disband for the holiday season, staging its last open mic for 2011 tonight. But come February, the Polo Yard will be on fire again. A spin-off of the Dragon's Lair has been created as a television show called "On Da Blocks". It airs on JCN, Saturday nights at 9.30pm. The Vendetta Group also contributed to this article.