McGarrity Acted In Good Faith

Irish music promoter James McGarrity admits he’s been stopped from advertising U.S. country star Vince Gill for his Country Fest 2010 but denies he acted in bad faith.

A statement released April 8 said McGarrity’s JW Promotions was falsely advertising that Gill would be on the bill for his festival at Donegal July 31 to Aug. 1, despite being sent “cease and desist” letters requesting he remove Gill’s name and likeness from his ads.

“I received the cease and desist letters and I replied to them. I booked Vince Gill through a third party and it’s turned out that the third party wasn’t authorised to act on his behalf,” McGarrity told Pollstar, claiming the matter has been “blown out of all proportion.”

He says he’s removed Gill from the advertising, although he’s still trying to talk to Gill’s real representatives with a view to persuading him to perform. He said he thought it “unlikely” that he’ll succeed.

McGarrity declined to name the third party he’d used to book Gill because the matter may be sub judice.