Van Morrison at the O2 Arena

Sarah Bradbury The Upcoming "The recently knighted Sir Van Morrison then took the audience back to blues basics with his cluster of musicians and a still-astounding voice, flecked with his playing of the sax and harmonica. Dipping into his vast back catalogue in his trademark trilby and shades, “Van the man” delivered a beautiful reinterpretation of Have I told you lately… as well as Magic Time, Cleaning Windows and Moondance, finishing up on a blistering Gloria. He also introduced the spectators to track Every Time I See a River from new album Keep Me Singing, the 36th record to come from one of the world’s most prolific musicians.  This was a characteristically enigmatic performance but what it perhaps passed over in terms of crowd pleasing (Brown-Eyed Girl being a notable absence) was made up for in his unwavering fixation on the music, only briefly interrupted when the concertgoers were momentarily booted into action by Muddy Water’s Baby, Please Don’t Go. Cracking a gentle smile he asked, “Why do you like this one so much?”.

There was an intensity to Morrison’s bluesed-up set that would have been far more at home in a cosy Soho bar, its wistful rhythms and intimate charm were simply less accessible in the giant space of the O2 Arena. But as he disappeared from the stage with his final “G-L-O-R-I-A” still lingering in the air, there was no doubting this was very much the same musical visionary that has delighted and moved audiences persistently over the last five decades.

The Northern Irish songwriter may have failed to get his Sunday night crowd up and dancing but he proved his transcendental style and sublimely soulful voice still have much to offer with this masterclass in blues." Read it here Image Credit © Colin Hart