Van Morrison, Royal Albert Hall

Van Morrison should need little in the way of introduction. Astral Weeks, his 1968 album, remains a permanent fixture near the top of best album lists, with follow-up Moondance
(1970) seldom far behind. Throughout the next decade, he released record after record of astounding music, with five further collections – the country-flecked Tupelo Honey (1971), more eclectic Saint Dominic’s Preview (1972), pastoral Veedon Fleece (1974), live album It’s Too Late to Stop Now (1974) and quietly beguiling Into the Music (1979) – soon becoming certified classics. And even if you’ve never spun one of these seminal records, it is unlikely that you won’t have heard ‘Wild Night’ and ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ on countless occasions.
Not content to simply relive past glories, since the ‘Van the Man’ has blazed a thrillingly unconventional path, with minimal experimentation, traditional folk, mystical meanderings and heavy blues. At its core, though, his work remains what critics have dubbed ‘Celtic’ or ‘Caledonian’ soul, taking classic American musical forms and adding an Irish twist. His forceful voice and literary lyrics set him apart – who else would release a fifteen minute song referencing both James Joyce and T. S. Eliot? Yet even at its most arcane, Morrison’s music remains accessible. At core a working class artist – several of his songs deal with his youth in the Belfast dockyards and first job as a window cleaner – he is committed to engaging listeners and stirring the heart.
Although he seldom embarks on full tours, Van Morrison still makes numerous appearances for festivals and charitable causes. It is the latter that brings him to London, where he will perform at the Royal Albert Hall in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Expect a mixture of hits and deep cuts, all delivered alongside a first rank session band.