Peter Aiken on Zach Bryan coming to Cork and the future of Live at the Marquee
Concert promoter Peter Aiken at the launch of Live at The Marquee 2026. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Concert promoter Peter Aiken is confident this summer’s major stadium gigs in Cork will attract more major acts to the county.
“He didn’t know where Cork was, to be honest,” Aiken says, before sharing how Zach Bryan’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh gigs will put the Rebel County on the radars of other high-profile artists.
“It’s good because people will see somebody as big as Zach Bryan, when they see his tour dates and he’s doing Cork that invariably gets people asking the question: what else is coming?”
In April, Aiken voiced his fears that rising fuel prices could impact concerts and festivals. A few weeks on, he is less concerned for the short-term effects on his industry.
“It doesn't seem to be as bad as I thought,” he said. “Every day it seems it goes up, it goes down, but it isn't going away. Maybe it's further down the line it's going to be a problem.”
He said there are no immediate concerns that artists will not be able to travel for scheduled dates, adding Bryan is already in Europe for other concerts on his tour.
He was speaking ahead of the first night of Live at the Marquee, which is marking 21 years in Cork — and its third year at its new venue at the former Tedcastle’s Yard, just over the road from where it began in 2005. Aiken is realistic, knowing it’s not a ‘forever home’ for the festival.
“We've moved across the road, and you can see the building going on over there [at the old site]. Eventually, someone's going to build here,” he said.
“That'll be the challenge, but Cork City Council have always made it very clear that they'll always do their best to get this site.”
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He said he still hopes the long-awaited event centre gets off the ground, describing the lack of progress as “scandalous”.
“It just seems scandalous that a city like Cork doesn't have a proper event centre. We're doing 21 shows in six weeks. What could it do all year round?”
However, he removed himself from the potential financial backers of an event centre. “I wouldn’t have that sort of money.”
There are several Cork acts performing at Live at the Marquee 2026, with the likes of Allie Sherlock, Stephanie Rainey, BABYRAT and Stevie G opening for Five, Natasha Bedingfield, Bell X1, and Dec Pierce Block Rockin’ Beats.
One noticeable difference this year is the brand new tent erected beside the Lee. For over two decades, a distinctive blue-and-yellow marquee hosted acts like Elton John and Lady Gaga; now it is replaced by a red-and-blue version.
“The other tent was just battered; it’s been all around the world. This is a better rent,” he promised. “The other one was decommissioned.”
Aiken is optimistic about the summer gigs in Cork, both this year and beyond.
“It’s going to be six weeks of great music, comedy, and darts, and Zach Bryan across the road — we’re going to be here for a long time.”
- Live at the Marquee returns tonight with K-POP Forever! Tribute and runs until July 18.
