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. For about a month in June and July, a concert is held most evenings; 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 event was 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, Ke$ha, 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