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Large Concerts have been severely lacking in Newry for many years but all this is set to change later this spring when Lady Gaga plays her first ever concert in the city as part of Newry's Rock the Courthouse Festival.
After extensive and sometimes heated talks at last night's specially convened meeting of Newry and Mourne Council the application for a license was approved and permission was granted to publicise the event from this morning. The concert has been confirmed for Saturday the 28th of May in Newry Courthouse Car Park, the first time it has been used for such an undertaking.
Numbers will be strictly limited to 17,541 and the tickets which are priced at £58.75 plus a £6 booking fee will go on sale Friday the 15th of April on a first come first served basis. The Support Acts have been confirmed but as we went to press have yet to be announced.
The Festival's choice of headline artist is certain to prove controversial with some, given her penchant for outrageous costumes and her 'blue' outbursts on stage. One local councillor who didn't want to be named told Newry.info "It's absolutely deplorable that this so called musical artist is coming to our city to corrupt our children and introduce moral depravity to our tight knit community. She should stay at home"
On the other hand a committee member from the Newry Rainbow Community was already looking forward to Newry being put on the Concert circuit map. "Lady Gaga has long been regarded as a gay icon and indeed attributes her success to her gay fan base. I for one will be right at the front of the stage." Others welcoming her to the city include local members of the Master Butchers Association who are hoping she may need to source a significant amount of local produce for one of her tailored outfits! Indeed the event is expected to bring around 6 Million Pounds into the local economy.
Italian Promotions Agency Proofilla are responsible for bringing Gaga to Newry and their UK and Ireland Co-ordinator Trevor Hill said the artist was really looking forward to her visit to the Courthouse Festival and quoted her as saying "It's incredibly humbling for me to play in such a phenomenal city. I can't wait to meet my little Newry monsters"
Perhaps she doesn't remember it but this will be her second time in our city having briefly called in to Fiveways on the Armagh Road in January 2009 for some milk on her way to her Dublin gig.
Chamber of Commerce representative Holt McDonnell while welcoming the major boost to the city's coffers sadly ruled out his own attendance at the gig stating "I'm afraid I am more GAA than Gaga and wouldn't miss Armagh thrashing Down in their opening Championship clash at Armagh's Athletic Grounds on the same night!"
Roll on the 28th. A top notch local derby, a Gaga Concert and Newry Marathon! - A bumper weekend indeed!
"Like" us on www.facebook.com/newry.info to be in with a chance of getting your very own Limited Edition Concert Poster.
