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)