The promoters have been ordered by Wicklow County Council to cease all advertising activity for the event.
The issue featured as part of the April monthly meeting of the district, where Cllr Joe Behan expressed frustration at the lack of communication, the premature promotion of the event, and the absence of legally required licences.
The controversy began when promotional material for a concert appeared online last month, advertising a large scale music event at the home ground of Bray Wanderers. The R&B singer was the first act signed up for the ‘Under The Giant Festival’, which is due to take place from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23.
The festival is being brought to the seaside town by independent live events promoter, Bad Apple, which produces concerts and events across Ireland and the UK.
The announcement caught both residents and district staff by surprise, with Cllr Behan stating they had received queries from the public before he had been informed of any such proposal.
At the meeting, district manager Jackie Carroll confirmed that she had been unaware of the event until the advertising surfaced. She told councillors that she subsequently met with Bray Wanderers management, who acknowledged that the concert required landlord consent from the council, consent that had neither been sought nor granted. Ms Carroll described the club’s representatives as “very apologetic” and said they accepted that the promoters had moved ahead prematurely.
In response, the council instructed the promoter to immediately cease all advertising and promotional activity online, in the press and across all broadcast media.
“The promotor is not allowed to advertise any further until all the issues are ironed out,” Ms Carroll said.
She added that due diligence is now under way, with officials meeting the promoters to outline the full range of requirements that must be met before any non sporting event can be considered.
One of the most significant of those requirements is consultation with residents. Ms Carroll confirmed that no such consultation has taken place to date, despite the potential for substantial disruption. Large concerts typically involve road closures, traffic diversions, late night noise, and increased footfall in surrounding neighbourhoods.
“Residents will need to be consulted with,” she said, emphasising that this step is mandatory before any decision can be made.
The revelation prompted strong criticism from Cllr Behan, who expressed frustration at both the lack of communication and the apparent disregard for established procedures. He was particularly vocal, questioning whether the terms of the Carlisle Grounds sporting lease would allow a commercial concert at all.
He said he was “deeply concerned about the precedent this could set”, adding: “I cannot see how a sporting lease allows for a commercial concert of this scale. If this goes ahead without proper scrutiny, it opens the door to repeated non sporting events, and that is not what this facility was leased for.”
Beyond the lease issue, the proposed concert would require a series of major licences and statutory approvals, none of which have yet been applied for. A large scale concert at the Carlisle Grounds would trigger multiple layers of regulation involving Wicklow County Council, An Garda Síochána, fire authorities, and emergency planning officials.
The first requirement is landlord consent under the sporting lease. Without this written approval from the council, no further licensing steps can legally begin. This is the stage the proposal has not yet reached.
If the event were to attract more than 5,000 attendees, the promoters would also need to apply for an event licence under part of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This is the same licence required for major events such as Electric Picnic and concerts in Marlay Park.
The process involves public notices, a statutory consultation period, and the submission of a comprehensive event management plan covering crowd control, security, medical services, fire safety, traffic management, noise mitigation, and waste disposal. The plan must be reviewed by the council, gardaí, fire services, and the HSE. The licensing process typically takes between six and 10 weeks.
Additional approvals would be required for temporary structures, such as stages and lighting towers, all of which must be certified by engineers.
Promoter Zack Dutton said he met with the council on Wednesday, April 15, and is working through the planning process with all relevant stakeholders. He added there are major international artists lined up for the festival, which will be announced in due course.
The situation has raised broader questions about the future use of the Carlisle Grounds. Cllr Behan strongly warned that any shift toward commercial concerts must be carefully managed, fully transparent, and consistent with the terms of the lease.
Officials are continuing their review, and the issue is expected to return to the agenda at upcoming district meetings.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme