Cork is to have a two-week music festival this summer featuring Bob Dylan, Art Garfunkel, former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and Roxy Music.
Details of the Live at the Marquee festival were announced yesterday by promoter Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions who is committed to bringing the event to Cork for the next five years following the success of a similar festival in the city last year. This year's festival will be held at showgrounds in Ballintemple near Páirc Uí Chaoimh and will also feature David Gray, the Frames and Des Bishop.
The festival is scheduled to start with David Gray on June 24th and finish with Des Bishop on July 7th.
"We're very pleased with the line-up. I think it's going to be a great couple of weeks," said Mr Aiken, who last year brought Brian Wilson, Diana Ross, Al Green, Nick Cave, Dwight Yoakam and Van Morrison to Cork for the Live in the Marquee festival.
"Last year, there was a very good vibe and a lot of the people connected with the groups last year are connected with the groups this year and they were impressed with the marquee last year and the acoustics and how well the audiences responded.
"I always had a good chance of getting Dylan but two months ago I got a phone call about Roger Waters and I thought, Wow.
"Then Robert Plant came on board. They're big acts so it's going to be a great 12 nights or so," he added.
Mr Aiken confirmed that Dylan - who was twice scheduled to play the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co Cork, but pulled out because of illness - will be appearing but he still has to confirm the exact date - either June 23rd or 25th.
Last year Mr Aiken estimated that the concerts in the marquee, which is imported from the UK for the festival and has a capacity of 4,500, brought about €10 million to the local Cork economy.
Sources suggest the figure could be even higher this year.
"We would expect the tickets to sell even faster this year given the high-profile performers that are appearing," said an Aiken Promotions spokeswoman. She said three more acts were still to be added to the line-up.