Promoter Sues Local Council

Irish promoter Joe Gallagher Entertainments is taking legal action against Derry City Council’s plans to book big-band legend Jools Holland for a massive New Year’s Eve bash.

Although he’s worked previously with the council, the Derry Journal reports that Gallagher has issued a writ for “monies due and owing.”

In October, former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt pulled out of a Halloween show that Gallagher and Derry Culture Company, the council’s cultural wing, were promoting at the city’s Guildhall Square.

A Derry City Council spokesman told the Derry paper that a writ “for an alleged breach of contract” was issued against the Culture Company and not the actual council.

The paper also said it understood the possibility of putting on a Jools Holland concert as a way of kicking off the 2013 celebrations in spectacular fashion had been discussed in recent months.

It’s believed one of the venues under consideration for the planned gig was the new arena at Ebrington, which can hold up to 4,000 people standing.

Jools Holland, regarded as “Mr. New Year’s Eve” thanks to his popular annual ‘Hootenanny” music show, is no stranger to Derry.

His 18-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra has topped the bill on a number of occasions at the City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival.

Holland was a founding member of Squeeze and his work has involved him with many top artists including George Harrison, David Gilmour, and Bono.