Live at the Marquee is a season of music concerts and other live performance events organised by Aiken Promotions in a large marquee in Cork, Ireland, every summer since 2005. A concert is held most evenings with the festival usually running from the end of May to late June/early July; tickets for each night are sold separately, with varying lineups and pricing. Acts have represented many genres of popular music, including rock, folk, electronic, hip hop, rhythm and blues, and country; as well as stand-up comedy acts.
The first season was part of Cork's 2005 year as European Capital of Culture. It proved successful enough to be repeated annually. The venue for the first two years was the Cork Showgrounds, then owned by the Munster Agricultural Society. When the Showgrounds were acquired by the Munster GAA for its redevelopment of the adjoining Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium, Live at the Marquee moved to an adjacent site previously used by Ford as a vehicle distribution centre. In 2018 National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), which had acquired the site after the 2008 economic crash, announced that it would be selling it. Aiken Promotions said it would seek an alternative site for further seasons of Live at the Marquee. The 2020-21 events were cancelled as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.
The event has attracted many well-known names in the music industry to perform including Little Mix, Elton John, JLS, Ellie Goulding, 50 Cent, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, The Script, Pink, Christy Moore, Jason Derulo, Eric Clapton, Flo Rida, Jay-Z, Morrissey, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Anastacia, Jessie J, Olly Murs, Steps, Meat Loaf, Kesha, Picture This, Jedward, Ne-yo, Snoop Dogg, Lana Del Rey, Alexandra Burke and Sting.
Previous years 2005
The 2005 festival was a two-week affair combining music and comedy and took place in a specially designed marquee designed by Kellie Clarke marquees (with a capacity of 4,000) in the Cork Showgrounds between 30 June and 17 July. Beach Boy Brian Wilson launched the Cork 2005 Marquee with his first ever appearance in the city of Cork. 2005 performances included:
Brian Wilson – 30 June Aslan with special guest George Murphy – 1 July Brian McFadden – 2 July Diana Ross – 3 July Gipsy Kings – 4 July Al Green with special guests Gabrielle and Amos Lee – 5 July Nick Cave – 6 July Van Morrison – 7 July Paul Brady with special guest Cara Dillon – 8 July Tommy Tiernan – 10 July Dwight Yoakam with special guest BR5-49 – 12 July Paddy Casey with special guest Declan O'Rourke – 14 July Damien Dempsey with special guests The Frank and Walters & Fred −15 July Ronan Keating – 16 July Christy Moore – 17 July McFly
2006
Live at the Marquee 2006 took place in the Cork Showgrounds between June and July. Headlining acts included Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, The Frames and Des Bishop. The 2006 festival featured: Christy Moore – 23 June David Gray with Simple Kid – 24 June Bob Dylan – 25 June Art Garfunkel – 28 June Roger Waters – 29 June The Frames – 30 June Kanye West – 2 July Kanye West – 3 July Robert Plant with Revere – 5 July Roxy Music with Jodavino – 6 July Des Bishop – 7 July
2007
It was decided that in 2007 the event would relocate to The Docklands on Centre Park Road in Cork. Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan later said of their 2007 performance, "Without doubt, the Marquee gig in 2007 was one of the best gigs of our entire Flock tour. We had played venues like The Lobby, The Savoy and the Opera House, but being asked to play the Marquee was a crowning moment for us". The 2007 festival lineup included: Faithless – 20 June Antony and the Johnsons – 21 June Comedy Circus – 23 June (CANCELLED) Podge and Rodge – 24 June Slayer – 26 June Cascada – 28 June Duran Duran – 29 June The Who – 30 June Bell X1 – 1 July Status Quo – 2 July The Flaming Lips – 3 July 50 Cent – 4 July Madness – 5 July Christy Moore with Declan Sinnott – 7 July Elton John – 9 July Lionel Richie – 11 July
2008
The 2008 festival took place from 18 June until 7 July. Shayne Ward opened the festival and Pink returned to close it. Christy Moore returned for a fourth year whilst comedian Tommy Tiernan was originally going to perform on 3 July, but agreed to put his gig back a day to accommodate Paul Simon who was only available to perform on the 3rd. The 2008 festival lineup included: Shayne Ward – 18–19 June Eric Clapton – 20 June Dolly Parton – 21 June Lou Reed – 23 June Jay-Z – 25 June Morrissey – 26 June Christy Moore – 28 June Meat Loaf – 29 June Neil Young – 30 June Massive Attack – 1 July Tommy Tiernan – 2 July Paul Simon – 3 July Tommy Tiernan – 4 July Tommy Tiernan – 5 July Paul Weller – 6 July Pink – 7 July
2009
The 2009 festival was launched on 28 November 2008, with the announcement of The Prodigy, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Kasabian, Christy Moore, Josh Ritter and Rod Stewart. On 19 February 2009, a further set of acts were announced – including: Blondie, Simple Minds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bell X1, Des Bishop, Mick Flannery/John Spillane, Boyzone and Anastacia. Flo Rida was announced on 9 April 2009. The line-up included:
Blondie – 17 June [CANCELLED – "due to circumstances out of the organiser's control"] The Priests – 17 June The Prodigy – 18 June Gilbert O'Sullivan – 20 June Kasabian – 21 June [CANCELLED – due to "promotional commitments"] Tracy Chapman – 22 June Chickenfoot – 23 June Flo Rida – 24 June Simple Minds – 25 June Bell X1 – 26 June Christy Moore – 27 June Boyzone – 28 June Crosby, Stills & Nash – 29 June Anastacia – 30 June Lady Gaga- 1 JulyIrish Independent reviews. Lady GaGa (2009) Josh Ritter with support from Lisa Hannigan – 4 July Des Bishop – 5 July Ne-Yo – 6 July Rod Stewart – 7 July Kanye West with support from Kid Cudi – 8 July Mick Flannery/John Spillane – 9 July 50 Cent – 10 July
2010
Hot Press put together a "special guide" for the festival. The 2010 festival included:
Megadeth – 14 June Chris Brown – 15 June [CANCELLED – due to problems with work visa's] JLS – 16 June. JLS – 17 June. Al Green and Michael McDonald – 19 June. Kenny Rogers – 20 June. Jackson Browne and David Lindley – 23 June. Blondie – 24 June Midlake, Camera Obscura, Grizzly Bear and Villagers – 25 June. Horslips – 26 June [CANCELLED – due to sudden illness of Jim Lockhart] Paul Weller – 27 June The Cranberries – 29 June Deep Purple – 30 June Dara Ó Briain – 1 July Dara Ó Briain – 2 July Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott – 3 July. Snoop Dogg – 5 July Westlife – 6 July Westlife – 7 July (Announced after previous date sold out within minutes) Tony Bennett – 8 July Madness – 9 July Mamma Mia! – from 20 July until 1 August (16 Shows)
2011
Aiken Promotions announced the first round of acts for the 2011 festival on 26 November 2010. On 31 January 2011, The Frames were announced, followed by Grinderman being announced on 2 February, with Erasure added to the line-up on 14 February. Fleet Foxes were announced as the 10th act for the festival, and Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, Katherine Lynch, Westlife, Paul Simon and a second Imelda May show where added on 7 March. Lil Wayne was added to the line-up on 25 March but this was later cancelled as issues with work permits in the UK caused Lil Wayne's European tour to be cancelled. Katherine Lynch's show was moved to the Cork Opera House. The line-up was: The Frames – 11 June Erasure – 15 June Bob Dylan – 16 June Imelda May – 17 June Katherine Lynch – 18 June [CANCELLED] Tom Jones – 19 June Grinderman – 20 June [CANCELLED] Paul Simon – 21 June Bryan Adams – 22 June Imelda May – 23 June (SOLD OUT) Alexandra Burke – 24 June Christy Moore – 25 June Fleet Foxes – 26 June Elton John & Band – 28 June Bell X1 – 1 July Jedward – 2 July Jedward (second date) – 23 July. Lil Wayne – 4 July [CANCELLED] Westlife – 9 July
2012 Aiken Promotions officially announced the first act for the 2012 festival on 7 November 2011, with Christy Moore performing alongside Declan Sinnott on 23 June 2012. 2012 marked the eight consecutive year Christy Moore performed at the festival. Jedward were announced on 18 November. Justice was announced as the third act confirmed for Live at the Marquee on 25 November. Dara O'Briain also made a return to the Marquee in 2012 with 2 dates. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were announced on 14 December, as well as shows for The Coronas and Olly Murs. The Ireland team's matches in UEFA Euro 2012 were shown in the marquee. The full line-up included: Justice – 7 JuneJustice to perform at Live at the Marquee Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – 8 June Imelda May – 9 June Republic of Ireland -V- Croatia – 10 June The Specials – 11 June Spain -V- Republic of Ireland – 14 June The Coronas – 15 June Italy -V- Republic of Ireland – 18 June Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott – 23 June Jedward – 24 & 30 June Dara Ó Briain – 28 & 29 June Jessie J – 1 & 3 July Olly Murs – 4 & 5 July Steps – 6 July
2013 The first acts of Live at the Marquee 2013 were announced by Aiken Promotions on 10 December 2012 with ZZ Top, Elton John, Elvis Costello and Christy Moore announced for the festival. The Coronas were announced as the 5th act to perform at LATM 2013. The projected line-up included:
Olly Murs – 12 June Little Mix – 14 June The Wanted – 16 June The Coronas – 22 June Elton John – 23 June Elvis Costello & The Imposters – 26 June ZZ Top – 27 June The National – 28 June The Coronas – 29 June Sting – 1 July Passenger – 2 July Ke$ha – 3 July Bell X1 – 4 July The Boomtown Rats – 5 July Christy Moore – 6 July Jessie J – 7 July Imelda May – 9 July
2014 In late 2013 and early 2014, several acts were announced for the 2014 event, including: Cliff Richard – 9 June Dolly Parton – 12 June The Coronas – 13 June Bob Dylan – 16 June Tom Jones – 19 June Imelda May – 21 June Elbow – 24 June Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters – 25 June Jason Derulo – 26 June Biffy Clyro – 27 June Bryan Adams – 28 June Pixies – 30 June The Prodigy – 2 July Christy Moore – 5 July Paolo Nutini – 8 July Neil Young & Crazy Horse – 10 July Shane Filan – 11 July Mario Rosenstock – 12 July The National – 14 July Lana Del Rey – 15 July
2015 Acts for the 2015 event included: Beck – 16 June Billy Idol – 17 June The Coronas – 19 June Nathan Carter – 21 June ZZ Top – 22 June Ellie Goulding – 24 June Kodaline – 25 June Lionel Richie – 27 June The Waterboys – 28 June Dara Ó Briain – 3 July Christy Moore – 4 July Van Morrison – 9 July Status Quo – 12 July Damien Rice – 13 July Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – 14 July
2016 The 2016 festival (15 June to 13 July) was scheduled to include performances from Slayer, Anthrax, Tom Jones, Imelda May, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Little Mix, Olly Murs, The Coronas, Nathan Carter and The Pixies.
2017 Acts, appearing from 9 June to 14 July, included Elton John, Eddie Vedder, Elbow, Cliff Richard, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Bryan Adams, Idina Menzel (cancelled), Emeli Sandé (cancelled), The Coronas, Picture This, Walking on Cars, Nathan Carter, RTÉ 2fm Live with Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Gavin James, Christy Moore, Tommy Tiernan, and Al Porter.
2018 Acts, appearing from 7 June to 14 July, included A-Ha, Don McLean, Bell X1, Gavin James, CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers, Picture This, Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Script, James Bay, Christy Moore, Nathan Carter, Jack Johnson, Alanis Morissette, Kraftwerk, and The Coronas.;
2019 The lineup for the 2019 event included Aslan, Toto, Kris Kristofferson, The Academic, Christy Moore, David Gray, and Hall & Oates.
2022
2022 was the last time the festival played at the Monahan Road in Cork's docklands. Artists who performed include: The Coronas – 27 May Tom Grennan – 31 May Simply Red – 1 June Riverdance – 2-5 June The National – 6 June John Bishop – 9-10 June Olly Murs – 11 June Deadmau5 – 17 June