june-2011

IRELAND’S
MUSICAL
HEART
Cork is the city where everyone
knows one another. Little wonder
that Live at the Marquee is as
beloved by stars as it is fans
DUBLIN MAY HAVE THE
bragging rights when
it comes to producing
one of the world’s most
successful bands, but nowhere
in Ireland has the same passion
for music as Cork.
That’s borne out by the way
the city’s embraced Live At The
Marquee, a month-long series
of tented gigs which launched
in 2004. With 100,000 tickets
up for grabs this year, it’s one
of the biggest events of its kind
anywhere in Europe.
This 2011 bill is as
star-studded as ever with
international acts of the
calibre of Paul Simon, Bryan
Adams, Elton John and
Marquee regular Bob Dylan
all making the trip out to
the Showgrounds.
Add in homegrown heroes
like Imelda May, Bell X1 and
folk singer Christy Moore, who
numbers Bono, Colin Farrell
and Johnny Depp among his
56 WIZZ MAGAZINE // JUNE/JULY 2011
Words Stuart Clark Photos Mark Read
admirers, and you can see why
local excitement about the
shows is at fever pitch.
The man masterminding
this frenzy of musical activity
is Peter Aiken. He’s from
Belfast but has enormous
affection for Cork, which has
been nicknamed the People’s
Republic because of its
rebellious streak.
“Cork’s a big city with a
smalltown feel,” Aiken reflects.
“Everybody knows everybody
else and whether it’s football,
rugby, Gaelic games or in this
case music, they’ll turn out and
support what’s going on in their
backyard. They’re enormously
proud of the fact that legends
like Bob Dylan and Elton John
love playing in Cork.
“Elton – who’s a great guy
by the way – was so blown
away by the reaction he got
the last time that he signed
hundreds of autographs
from the side of the stage.
CORK BAND FRED,
SEEN HERE AT
THE PAVILION
CREDIT