Revealed: New location and first acts confirmed for Live at the Marquee 2024 in Cork
Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions at the announcements of a new location for Live at The Marquee 2024, with nine acts announced for next summer. Pic: Larry Cummins
Live at the Marquee will return to Cork in 2024 in a new location — but not too far away from where festival-goers have been attending.
Promotor Peter Aiken confirmed the long-running festival will continue next year "just across the road" but construction work for a new residential development on the event's traditional site near Monahan Road necessitates a move.
The festival, which will mark its 19th year in Cork, will take place near the old site, at the former Tedcastle Oil site, for 19 nights.
Speaking at a press conference at the Montenotte Hotel, Aiken said the organisers are happy to stay close to their roots near the Marina.
"We are moving site, we’re moving to the old Tedcastle site [on Centre Park Road] — it’s right beside where the Marquee site is," he said.
"It’s actually a bigger site than the site we were on,” he added, saying they will have more space for patron parking and concession stands.
He said they looked at 10 potential sites across the city but "the unanimous decision was to go back to exactly where we were".
Aiken thanked the owners of the new site as well as Cork City Council for their support with the move, which “took a long time, it took a bit longer than I thought but we got there in the end.”
He said the festival will take place on the new site for "at least three years" and that they are investing in the site for the long term, spending "a month or two" getting the ground ready.
"We're really going to up our game this year. We’re going to be there for a minimum of three years so we really are going to spend a few quid on it and get it right."
He also confirmed the first Irish acts for next summer, including Christy Moore, The Coronas, Gavin James and Damien Dempsey. Despite the increased spending on the site change, Aiken said the ticket prices for the Irish acts will not increase, staying the same price as last year.
"For all the Irish artists, they're all the exact same as they were the last time," he confirmed.
The Coronas will perform on May 24, while Gavin James takes to the Marquee stage on May 25. Bingo Loco returns on June 1 and One Day presents blk takes place on June 7, followed by Damien Dempsey on June 8.
Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will be bringing the next chapter in their dance collaboration to Cork on June 14 and Christy Moore will play his 18th year in the Marquee on June 15. Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill will perform on June 21, while the Biggest Disco returns to Cork on June 22.
Tickets for the newly announced gigs will go on sale next week, staggered from Monday to Friday.
Aiken denied they feel pressure from the competing gigs across the city at Musgrave Park, noting some of next summer’s big acts there, like Sting and The Waterboys, previously played at the Marquee a few years ago. Instead, he sees it as a healthy sign.
“Of course it’s competition, but when the Marquee came along there was no competition,” he said. “It's worth doing, and there's always competition. Competition is good.” He said it’s no surprise some acts will choose to perform for 15,000 fans over 5,000 fans at the Marquee.
Since the festival’s first season in 2005, it has attracted big names, including Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan and Pink, and Aiken said international acts at next summer's Live at the Marquee will be announced at the beginning of February. Aiken remained tight-lipped on those acts, but hinted: "We’ve got one or two that will surprise everybody in February."
When asked about other acts that could come to Cork, Aiken said he believes Beyoncé, whose most recent tour dates do not include any Irish gigs, will perform in Cork — but fans might have to wait a very long time.
“It’s not as if Beyonce is never coming back here. Beyonce will be in Cork someday. Someone like Beyonce will still be touring when she’s in her 70s. Diana Ross was nearly 70 and playing in the Marquee. Beyonce will be in Cork someday.”
