Five major gigs in Cork this summer that won't break the bank

Summer events on the Banks of the Lee bring Cork to life with sports, festivals, and large gigs. Rising ticket prices make major concerts a rare treat for many people, rather than a routine cultural experience. A set of five concerts on Leeside is offered in chronological order, aiming to deliver a big summer concert feel without excessive spending. Huey Morgan performs a DJ set at Seventy Seven on Sunday May 31 for €10, with sets rooted in hip-hop and soul and a laid-back Sunday closer at 10pm. Natasha Bedingfield plays Live at the Marquee on Thursday July 2 for €55.35, bringing feel-good summer pop with well-known hits like “Unwritten” and “These Words.”

"Summer means event season on the Banks of the Lee. Whether it's massive hurling and football matches, street festivals, or big gigs, the city comes alive when the sun comes out, as we end our collective winter hibernation. There are some of the world's biggest acts coming to Cork this year, but for many, the increasing cost of tickets just makes going to gigs a rare treat, and not a cultural rite of passage."

"Huey Morgan (DJ Set) - Seventy Seven, Sunday May 31. €10 The frontman of the Fun Lovin' Criminals has been DJing for years, and spent 17 years on BBC Six. His sets are rooted in hip-hop, soul and the kind of broad musical knowledge that comes from a genuinely eclectic career, with the Sunday closer set the type that suits a more laid back vibe, as the Bank Holiday hits the middle point, with Huey on at 10pm. Tickets are just €10 so even if you're not a night owl and don't want to say for the whole two hour set, it still represents great value."

"Natasha Bedingfield - Live at the Marquee, Thursday July 2. €55.35 The noughties pop icon will be hoping to bring her own 'Pocketful of Sunshine' to the Marquee in July, with the ultimate feel-good summer concert. The English/New Zealand artist, whose brother Daniel also hit the height of his fame in the '00s, was ranked 66 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music by VH1 back in 2012. Hits like and Unwritten and These Words were hits of a generation, and if the sun shines it's sure to be a brilliant night out under the tent."

Read at Irish Independent