Party planner

As a promoter working with some of the biggest names in music, Mark Harrison is looking forward to bringing a star-studded lineup to Lincoln Castle this summer. Interview by Kate Chapman.

He’s played an instrumental part in bringing some of the best-known names in music to Lincoln, but Mark Harrison is quite content with his behind-the-scenes role, preferring to let the talent take centre stage.

Mark, a promoter for Cuffe & Taylor (Live Nation) – one of the UK’s top 10 live music and event promoters, and experts in promotion, production, and event management – grew up in Lincoln and is delighted his work is bringing him back to the city.

Specialising in presenting concerts in unique locations, Cuffe & Taylor hosted six showstopping nights at Lincoln Castle last summer featuring acts such as Crowded House, Jess Glynne, Paloma Faith, Kaiser Chiefs and Madness. This June they’re following it up with a 10-night extravaganza when headliners will include Sugababes, Olly Murs, Rag‘n’Bone Man and Sting.

“I didn’t have a particular career path in mind – choices were completely different back then – but the history of my career has always been behind the scenes,” says Mark, who is the promoter of Live at Lincoln Castle and Bedford Summer Sessions among other projects.

“I’ve always been the one working to make things happen. I love thinking about what we can do, what we can create, what is the customer experience like, and if we could make it better, what could we do?

“Lincoln Castle is a great venue and with a capacity for 6,000 people you’re almost up close and personal to the acts.

“This year one of our performers is Sting – a worldwide, international artist. He’s only playing two other UK dates, it’s amazing to bring these musicians to Lincoln.”

Early career
Mark’s career began in catering and logistics for the RAF, when he was based at camps in Swinderby and Southall, in neighbouring Nottinghamshire. A job with Mecca Leisure, which ran a variety of entertainment venues including nightclubs, hotels and theme parks nationwide followed, where he was responsible for a large nightclub in Birmingham.

Mark recalls: “At that time in the 1980s, Birmingham was a real powerhouse leader in nightclubs.

Everyone was going out lots, it was big business. That role allowed me to work behind the scenes, producing some really exciting shows.

“Discotheques were full of big lighting rigs, moving laser lights and special effects. It was a great time.”

His next move involved teaming up with a new partner and buying a church in Bedford, which they converted into a nightclub with a three-star restaurant above. Mark ran the venue successfully for two-and-half years but changes to licensing laws in November 2005, that allowed pubs to remain open until 1am, forced him to rethink his career again.

After taking a role as a director for a business providing creative services to large brands, Mark launched his own company, The Full Effect, which transformed environments and staged unforgettable parties around the world.

Showstopping events
One such event, which Mark describes as the “highlight of my life”, was to organise a showstopping 70th birthday party for Abraham ‘Bram’ van Leeuwen, also known as the Prince of Lignac. He was a Dutch businessman and millionaire who gave Mark a blank cheque to organise his African themed birthday party staged in Thailand.

“It was like a dream come true,” smiles Mark. “He lived on a yacht in Florida, and I went out to see him twice and put together a seven-night programme including three nights in Bangkok.

“We made this volcano, which had to be transported on eight articulated trucks from England to Thailand. We built a stage in a hotel garden and put this volcano on the top of it.

“There were 26 dancers, pyrotechnics and lasers and then the volcano cracked open and there was the Prince of Lignac sitting on a throne! We had four muscular guys to walk him down to the party – it was amazing, like a dreamland! You would think I’m making it all up, it was just so wild!”

That event – which cost an eyewatering $3.5million to stage – cemented The Full Effect’s place as one of Europe’s leading event styling and production companies and led to further work in the private sector.

Other projects included collaborations for Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, one the most innovative thinkers in the party-planning world. Mark’s company also orchestrated the lavish scenery for Armstrong-Jones at the wedding of England football captain John Terry, at Blenheim Palace in 2007.

Promoting concerts
Mark went on to create Bedford Park Proms and has also promoted numerous gigs at Lincolnshire Showground. He joined Cuffe & Taylor (Live Nation) in 2022 to work with them on a series of events which has really taken off and put the city on the music map.

“I’m just a chap who loves what I do. I’ve never worked a day in my life! I love it – but being behind the scenes. I love seeing other people enjoying themselves and working to make that happen. With Lincoln, the acts have to be in keeping with the castle and we have to be respectful to the residents and businesses around, while trying to make sure we get a good mix.

“We’re constantly seeing who is touring and releasing albums when, to see who the venue will work for, but it’s not just about promoting the music.

“We meet with the business community in the city, Lincoln BIG and Visit Lincoln, as we’re having an impact on them too by bringing people into the night-time economy, people who have never been to Lincoln before.”

As well as planning and promoting, there are also the logistics to consider. With the gateway into the castle grounds only large enough to fit a van through, the lorry loads of equipment, rigging and staging required to set the scene all have to be unpacked and carried in by hand, with large teams of people often working late into the night.

“‘I feel like I’ve gone full circle being back in Lincoln. There’s been a lot of changes – the university, marina, Brayford Wharf area and Bailgate, there’s lots of wonderful areas,” says Mark. “Expanding these concerts here is part of my job. It’s not a one-year thing either just to make some money, it’s for the whole county, it brings in people from across Lincolnshire and beyond.

“We’re going to be here for a number of years. We’re already looking at acts for 2027. I’m spending more time in Lincoln than ever before, it really is great to be back.”

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