Even by his own frenetic standards, 2005 was a busy year for Peter Aiken and the Aiken Promotions organisation. Along with Metallica and Iron Maiden in the RDS, Kilkenny’s Source Festival and the daily goings-on at Vicar St., the Belfast man was responsible for bringing the first Live At The Marquee series of gigs to Cork.
The southern capital was delighted, with full houses – or should that be tents? – for Brian Wilson, Al Green, Christy Moore, Nick Cave, Brian McFadden, Ronan Keating and the other top Irish and international acts who made up the hot summer bill.
“I was convinced that there was a demand locally for a top-flight music event and, sure enough, 60% of the tickets were bought by Cork people,” Peter enthuses. “Even before the 2005 Live At The Marquee was over, we were starting to think, ‘Who can we get for next year?’”
The head scratching has paid off with another mouth-watering array of rock, pop, folk, hip hop and comedic talent taking to the Marquee stage from June 23 to July 7. You can sense the excitement building locally, as the opening date in the series draws nearer.
Arguably Peter's biggest coup is getting Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters to include Cork as the only Irish stop-off on his Dark Side Of The Moon-revisiting world tour.
“That came about as a result of people who are in Roger’s crew being at the Marquee last year and telling him what a great place to play it is,” he explains. “It’s probably the most intimate of the shows he’s doing – not that you’d know it from the production he’s bringing with him, which includes quadraphonic sound, huge great big video screens and some flying pigs! My two favourite bands as a lad were Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, so I’m really excited about seeing him.”
While he won’t be bringing pigs or, indeed, any type of farmyard animal with him, Peter is equally as enthusiastic about the Bob Dylan date on June 24.
“We’ve done a lot of shows with Dylan and, I have to say, he’s always been a gentleman. Rather than the team most artists of his stature have, he arrives with just the one security guy and is happy to have his photograph taken. He once cycled from his hotel to a gig in The Point, and the last time we had him in Nowlan Park, he signed some hurleys for the Kilkenny lads, who couldn’t believe it afterwards.
“Along with whatever classics he decides to dig out on the night,” Aiken continues, “the head of Columbia Records says that the new Bob Dylan album contains some of the best tracks that he’s ever done.”
Another act that has Peter – and the Corkonians who’ve snapped up tickets for his July 2 and 3 dates – drooling in anticipation is Kanye West (main pic left).
“The first night sold-out in 10 minutes, which isn’t surprising given that he’s in the same league now as Eminem and 50 Cent. In terms of showmanship, Kanye is the best hip hop act we’ve ever brought to Ireland.”
To accommodate the huge scale of Cork 2006 – Live At The Marquee, the 4,000-capacity tent is moving down the road from the Showgrounds to the Docklands.
“We’re very grateful to Cork City Council and the City Manager Joe Gavin, who are providing the new 10-acre site,” Aiken enthuses. “The access and facilities for both artists and concert-goers is superb. 2005 was good, but this year’s going to be even better!”
And so it will be – with an amazing array of artists, a magnificent venue, and, of course, the best audience in Ireland.
Over the following 16 pages, we profile all of the great talents who are en route to the People’s Republic as part of Cork 2006 – Live At The Marquee. Let the good times rock and roll!