30-August-2025
Waterfront Hall
 Belfast, Northern Ireland  

Brendan Hynes once again shares his thoughts on gig

Van Morrison at Waterfront Hall, Belfast, 30th August, 2025 The first of Van Morrison's weekend 80th birthday shows commenced as has become the norm of late with Into The Mystic followed by Only A Dream which saw Van repeat his No Prima Donna/All Change mantra over and over at the song's ending. Little Village was a major highlight in what was a great arrangement which concluded with a fine extended saxophone solo by Van. Van introduced the first of his special guests which unsurprisingly was Chris Farlowe and they once more worked their way through It's All Over Now Baby Blue followed by Ain't Gonna Moan No More, which featured more fine saxophone playing by Van, and finally Stormy Monday/ Take Your Hand Out Of My Pocket featuring nice guitar work by Dave Keary. Van next told us he was going to do a couple of songs from the new album which, as at Thursday night's studio show, were Back To Writing Love Songs and The only Love I Ever Need Is Yours and they clearly benefited from that previous outing as they sounded somewhat stronger tonight. 

Van's second special guest was James Hunter who reprised Ain't That Loving You Baby with Van followed by Just a Little Bit from Van's Them days which included some impressive harmonica playing by James. Their collaboration at that stage of the show concluded with I Don't Want To Go On Without You which James had featured on in a recording by Van. 

For Mr. Thomas was strong once again and was followed by an exceptional Crazy Jane On God featuring Dana Masters and Jolene O' Hara most impressively on backing vocals. This is quite haunting and has become quite a standout set inclusion of late. A somewhat rare and outstanding rendition of Not Feeling It Anymore was a major highlight and went down a storm with the audience. Another rarity followed in If I Ever Needed Someone featuring beautiful backing vocals by Dana Masters to complement Van's own voice. 

The show reached it's conclusion in up tempo mode culminating in Gloria as the final number which featured a rather incredible extended saxophone solo by Chris White as part of the band workout once Van had departed. 

Van was once more in fine voice throughout with the song choices on the night undoubtedly influenced to some extent by the blues backgrounds of Van's special guests for the show.

-Brendan Hynes

Set List 

Into The Mystic 

Only A Dream Little Village 

It's All Over Now Baby Blue (w/Chris Farlowe) 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More (w/Chris Farlowe) 

Stormy Monday/ Take Your Hand Out Of My Pocket (w/Chris Farlowe) 

Back To Writing Love Songs 

The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours 

Ain't That Loving You Baby (w/James Hunter) 

Just A Little Bit ( w/James Hunter) 

I Don't Want To Go On Without You (w/James Hunter) 

For Mr Thomas 

Crazy Jane On God 

Not Feeling It Any More 

If I Ever Needed Someone 

Don't Start Crying Now/ Custard Pie 

Who Do You Love/ Mona/ Not Fade Away (w/James Hunter) 

Gloria (w/Chris Farlowe and James Hunter) 

Set Length 1h 39m

Big Hand For The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)

Nicky Scott (Bass)

John McCullough (Keyboards)

Neal Wilkinson (Drums)

Dana Masters (Vocals)

Jolene O'Hara (Vocals)

Christopher White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)

Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)

28-August-2025
Studio At Waterfront
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Brendan Hynes Sent in His Thoughts on Gig: 

Van Morrison at Waterfront Hall Studio, Belfast, 28th August, 2025. The first of Van Morrison's three shows at this venue was held in the smaller and more intimate studio so it was a real privilege to be in attendance in a hall with a capacity of around 300. Van arrived on stage to the opening notes of Into The Mystic which set the tone for the evening. Only A Dream which followed was a fine arrangement with Van specifically requesting a fine saxophone solo by Chris White. Enlightenment was followed by two songs ( For Mr.Thomas and Crazy Jane On God) with lyrics by other writers namely Robin Williamson and William Butler Yeats which were both credited beforehand by Van. The latter song featured Dana Masters and Jolene O' Hara prominently on backing vocals to great effect.

After Cold Cold Heart which included a trumpet solo by Matt Holland that Van particularly enjoyed we were treated to a sublime Dweller On The Threshold which featured the brass section and backing vocalists in particular. Back To Writing Love Songs and The Only Love I Ever Need is Yours from the new album were well received and before playing the latter Van explained that the lyrics were written by Don Black so if anyone wants to know what the song is about they need to contact Don because Van doesn't know. A nice arrangement of Little Village was followed by Symphony Sid before the intro to In The Afternoon indicated that we needed to prepare ourselves for the long journey ahead and what a journey it turned out to be as Van gave it the full treatment.We were transported down the ancient highway and along the coastline with Van reminding us that there is No Plan B and No Safety Net. Van put his heart and soul into the song's delivery with the ecstatic standing ovation at it's conclusion richly deserved. 

Will Night was followed by a rare rendition of Blue Money which fairly motored along and it saw guitarist Dave Keary produce some comical high pitched vocals which greatly amused Van and the band before he threw in a very low note subsequently as an apparent display of his versatility!. Don't Start Crying Now/ Custard Pie kept up the high tempo and were followed by Van strapping on the electric guitar before performing a medley of Who Do You Love/ Mona/ Not Fade Away which Van announced as a collection of songs from way back including by Buddy Holly. This medley which I felt paled somewhat in comparison to the rest of the show brought it towards it's conclusion with Van returning one more time to the stage for the standard closing number of Gloria. Van was in fine voice throughout and really engaged in proceedings. This show was a fine aperitif to the weekend birthday celebration shows and certainly whetted the appetite for the main course to follow!
-Brendan Hynes

Setlist

Into The Mystic 

Only A Dream 

Enlightenment 

For Mr.Thomas

Crazy Jane On God

Cold Cold Heart 

Dweller On The Threshold 

Back to Writing Love Songs 

The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours

Little Village 

Symphony Sid

In The Afternoon 

Wild Night

Blue Money 

Don't Start Crying Now/ Custard Pie

Who Do You Love/ Mona/ Not Fade Away

Gloria 

Set Time: 1h 44m 

Big Hand For The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)

Nicky Scott (Bass)

John McCullough (Keyboards)

Neal Wilkinson (Drums)

Dana Masters (Vocals)

Jolene O'Hara (Vocals)

Christopher White (Saxaphone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)

Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)