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On the second day, one of the city's brightest stars, Mia Borders, stood against the heat of the sun during her early afternoon set on the main stage. Borders, a native of uptown New Orleans, has received great praise in the last few years for her soulful voice, heartfelt lyrics and mellow blues-funk sound, even receiving a nomination for "Best Emerging Artist" at this year's Big Easy Music Awards.
She said this was her first time at the Voodoo Experience with her band, whom she met through her older brother, and performing on the main stage for her debut was "pretty surreal."
"I didn't know I was playing until September," she said. "It was kinda crazy, but exciting."
Borders' set included songs from her latest album, "Magnolia Blue," as well as covers of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" and a surprisingly-fitting blues interpretation of "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails.
Borders said in the future she wants to record a cover album with proceeds benefitting the restoration of the gulf. She said she wanted to get people together for a fun project while also helping keep the oil spill in the public mind.
"It tends to happen with disasters; they eventually get out of the public eye," she said. "We're still recovering from Katrina and we need to remind people they need to continue to care; we can remind them with music."