A summer tour and debut album is the biggest push yet at a mainstream breakthrough for singer Iba Mahr.

The roots artiste is scheduled to kick off a series of European festival dates on July 5 at Summerjam in Germany.

He is also down to perform on Reggae Sunska in France with additional gigs in The Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.

In August, Iba Mahr is one of the acts for the 30th anniversary of Reggae On The River in northern California.

The yet-titled album is expected to coincide with the start of the tour. Roland McDermot, whose Born Rolling Productions manages the Linstead-born vocalist, says the next six months are critical.

“We definitely want to break him this year, he has two or three tunes that can open him to the world,” McDermott told Splash.

Will I Wait, Babylon Debating and Let Jah Lead The Way are some of the songs Iba Mahr’s management is pushing ahead of his summer tour.

The 27-year-old Iba Mahr (Mario Greaves) has been knocking at the door for over three years. While he has recorded songs for top producers, a mainstream hit has been elusive.

McDermott says despite the lack of a big hit, Iba Mahr is unfazed.

“He knows the business and that it takes more time to break roots artistes. He knows it’s important to stay focused.”