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'Van The Man' returns to Sligo with new poetry, music and lyrics show

SLIGO LIVE announced last night that Van Morrison will premiere an exciting new show when he returns to the town next October. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 29th, for the event in Sligo Institute of Technology (IT), priced at €47.50 plus €1 service charge.

A limited number of weekend tickets at €112 will enable music lovers to enjoy all of Sligo Live events, including Morrison and Joan Armatrading. In what promises to be a really special evening, "Van The Man" will present  “Lyrics and Poetry: Emphasis on Words" in his Sligo show.

The event will take place on Sunday 28th October at IT Sligo's Knocknarea Arena. The show will see Van Morrison, accompanied by his rhythm section, performing songs with -- say Sligo Live organisers -- "a strong emphasis on words, together with readings from his poetry."

Drumshanbo Hustle

Morrison has previously played Sligo, eg at the Sports Complex with Georgie Fame of the Blue Flames.

Now in his 67th year, Morrison started his music life as a teenage showband member in the early 1960s, The Monarchs, one of two with the same name, his one from Belfast.

One of his performing rarities - seen in an early 1970s RTE TV show - is the "Drumshanbo Hustle," a hard hitting lyrical critique of how the music business treats its stars, which was only released 25 years after it was first recorded.

Morrison's music also featured on the soundtrack of "The General," the filmed version of the best selling book by Leitrim born author Paul Williams.

Unseen Work

His Sligo audience next October  will also be treated to previously unseen work. Songs from his albums, “Astral Weeks”, "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher” and “Hymns to the Silence” will feature in this very special show, said a statement from the SligoLive organisers last night.

Said the organisers: "At their best Van Morrison’s live performances are regarded as transcendental and inspired and over the years many of his recordings have been widely viewed among the greatest ever made, with several included in ‘best album lists.'

"Since his international breakthrough with Them in 1964, Van the Man has been carving out a career as one of the most respected and influential artists in popular music. Van Morrison has been awarded many prestigious accolades over the years which include Grammys and Brit Awards; being inducted into the Hall of Fame; An OBE; French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres - the list is endless.

"Perhaps the ultimate achievement for a Northern Irish East Belfast boy, was the selection of his song ‘Days Like This’ as the anthem of the Northern Irish Peace Process.

Greatly Influenced

Morrison told the late Donal Corvin in Hot Press magazine 35 years ago how he had been greatly influenced by his father’s eclectic record collection which, he recalled, incorporated blues, folk, country, soul jazz, rhythm and blues - records by Jelly Roll Morton and the singing of Mahalia Jackson. He fused these influences into his own unique style.

His compositions also have strong lyrical component with many songs showing the influence of the visionary poets like WB Yeats and William Blake.

The choice of Sligo , "the spiritual home of Yeats, to launch this new show placing the emphasis on poetry and lyrics is no coincidence," said the Sligo Live organisers.

"Morrison shares many of Yeats’ touches, including the references to their iconic youthful haunts -- Morrison’s use of Cyprus Avenue and Orangefield in his Belfast homeland, Yeats’ and Sligo place names Hazelwood or Knocknarea.

"Van Morrison is playing a very special intimate show and Sligo Live is a unique opportunity for music lovers to enjoy a magical musical experience with a genuine legend," added the statement

Tickets to this one off concert go on sale from Sligo Live on Friday June 29th (€47.50 plus €1 Service charge). Numbers are strictly limited and restricted to eight tickets per order.