Peter Aiken says Zach Bryan gigs at Páirc will put Cork on concert map

Concert promoter Peter Aiken says country superstar Zach Bryan couldn’t find Cork on a map despite his two gigs planned on Leeside later this month.

“He didn’t know where Cork was, to be honest,” Aiken said, before sharing how the Oklahoma singer’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh gigs will put the Rebel County on the radar 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?” he said. 

He was speaking ahead of the first night last Wednesday 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 all began in 2005.

Realistic about Marquee festival

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.”

He said he still hopes the long-awaited event centre gets off the ground.

“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?”

For over two decades, the distinctive blue-and-yellow marquee tent hosted acts like Elton John and Lady Gaga — but it’s been replaced by a red-and-blue version.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 said. 

“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 runs until July 18.