Ebrington Square gigs will go ahead as planned, says promoter

“The weekend we’ve planned for the bank holiday in August is definitely 100% going ahead,” he said.

“There were five events planned initially [for summer], and we’re the only ones going ahead.

“I think it’s a wake-up call for everybody.”

He has called for closer collaboration between the local council and the Executive Office (TEO), which owns the site, but also greater support from the public.

“Without local support, these events will not happen,” he said.

“You can see already how many events are selling out in Belfast week after week.

“Everybody from Derry is leaving the city and going down there. We need them to stay.”

He said promoters needed to be booking two or three years ahead to attract the big names.

“For next year we are already speaking to a worldwide superstar who has sold out Las Vegas, London, Manchester, and Dublin, but we need to act on it now because if we wait for another two or three months the act will be gone,” he said.

New arrangements for events at Ebrington Square in 2024 came into effect in 2023 after a public dispute, when four concerts were called off, after permission was withdrawn by site owner TEO, following a threat of legal action by the newly-opened Ebrington Hotel.

The performances were then approved when the hotel management dropped their objection after a public backlash.

The council manages the application for promoters hoping to hold events in Ebrington and responsibility for event management remains with TEO.