Final countdown to the Big Marquee Weekend

Organisers are predicting a total ticket sell-out as solo artists, bands, DJs and music fans from across Northern Ireland prepare to converge on the village of Macosquin near Coleraine for the inaugural Big Marquee Weekend which gets underway next Friday (21 August).  

The three-day event, being held in a professionally-erected marquee in the car park of Mary Pat’s Bar, begins with a clubland night headlined by Micky Modelle and Ultrabeat with local support.

A hotly-anticipated Rock v Brit Pop battle will top Saturday’s bill as long-established Bon Jovi tribute act Con Jovi from Armagh go up against Belfast’s Oasis copycats Roll With It.  Coleraine band Cellar Door, acoustic performer Adam Buick, and DJs Steady and Trigger will warm up the crowd.

And the weekend will conclude to the sound of country music when singer-songwriter Ritchie Remo, duo JD Country and Ireland’s most popular Garth Brooks tribute act Jason Hughes perform on the specially-constructed indoor stage on Sunday. 

Drew Hutchinson, who has been organising the Big Marquee Weekend with Robert Todd and the bar’s proprietor Hughie Hamilton, said everyone involved was thrilled at the reaction the event has generated.

“We were ambitious from the outset in going for a big marquee with its own fully-kitted bar, booking top quality acts and running the event over three days,” Drew commented. 

“And we are delighted that the public have backed us by their buying tickets.  We are looking at an absolute sell-out, and we can’t do better than that.

“I have spoken to all of the artists over the past few days to finalise the running orders, and they are as excited as the rest of us.  

“There are a handful of tickets still available but all the indications are that they’ll be gone before we open the doors on Friday.

“It’s going to be a weekend to remember.”

Day tickets for the Big Marquee Weekend are priced at £10 for Friday and £12 on Saturday and Sunday.   A two-ticket is also available priced at £20.

They can be purchased from Mary Pat’s Bar, Romaya Hair Sanctuary in Coleraine or by calling Tel: 028 7034 4659.