Aiken says there is no crisis in concert business

ONE OF the country’s leading concert promoters has strongly rejected media reports that the Irish concert business is in crisis this summer and pointed to the fact that more than 80,000 people have bought tickets for this year’s Live in Marquee series in Cork.

Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions said some media outlets were suggesting that just because a number of high-profile concerts have not sold out that the business is in crisis.

“We have 15 acts playing here in the Marquee over 18 days and they’ve virtually all sold out – Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Shayne Ward, Jay Z, Meatloaf and Pink have all sold out,” said Mr Aiken.

“Morrissey, who’s supported by the New York Dolls, has almost sold out; and we’ve sold 4,800 for Paul Weller, so there are only 200 tickets left and we expect those to go quickly because Paul Weller never plays venues this big,” said Mr Aiken.

“And Irish acts are no different. Tommy Tiernan has sold out for three shows, that’s 15,000 people; and Christy Moore, who’s playing the Marquee for the fourth year running, has sold out faster this year than in any other year,” he added.

According to Mr Aiken, some 40 per cent of this year’s ticket sales for the gigs at the 5,000-seater tented arena are from outside Cork, with a considerable number of fans coming from abroad to the concerts, which have gained a favourable reputation internationally.

“Roger Waters played here two years ago and all the fans were singing back to him – they knew all the songs from Dark Side of the Moon – and when I met him last year backstage at a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, he said, ‘Wasn’t Cork incredible?’”

Dolly Parton plays the Marquee on Saturday night, and next week sees Lou Reed, Jay Z, Morrissey, Christy Moore and Meatloaf appearing at the venue.