PREMIUM NIGHTS

Despite the cut-throat nature of live music promotion, there has never been any shortage of talented individuals willing to do a turn.  The Sunday Business Post profiles Shane Harnett and Shane Madden, the Dublin entrepreneurs behind Summer Blowout, a day-long festival taking place next week at the 10,000-capacity Donnybrook stadium.

The event has cost the pair’s company Premium Nights €400,000 and will be hosted by Lottie Ryan, daughter of the late Gerry Ryan. They say ticket sales are “reasonably strong” and describe the “grind” of securing their desired line-up.

“This is a small company and our competitors have a monopoly,” said Harnett. “Some artists and agents were reluctant because this is the first year of the event. But we plan to hold it annually now and have entered an exclusive contract with the Leinster Branch [which owns the stadium] around this.”