03-November-2026
Usher Hall
Edinburgh, Scotland
Usher Hall
Edinburgh, Scotland
After opening tonight's show as has become the norm of late with a nice rendition of Into The Mystic, Van Morrison quickly went into overdrive with a scintillating version of Snatch It Back and Hold It featuring numerous excellent band solos and fine harmonica playing by Van himself. After Can't Help Myself which moved on to a lively Kansas City Van made his way to the piano for a stirring rendition of Sometimes We Cry which featured the three backing singers and Sumudu, in particular,prominently. Sumudu also got to do a party piece on Symphony Sid before Van unleashed the clear highlight of the show with a magnificent version of I Believe To My Soul which was so emotive there seemed to be hardly a dry eye in the hall at it's conclusion. As a certain singer famously sang "many a tear has to fall"!!. It was pretty hard to follow that but Van had a good shot at it with a very strong rendition of Ain't Gonna Moan No More which featured a nice Dave Keary guitar solo somewhat reminiscent of George Benson. Van introduced the band during this song including the welcome addition to the back up vocal lineup of the always elegant Katie Kissoon. Full Force Gale was a nice inclusion in the set and was followed by the reworked arrangement of Moondance which Van seemed to be in his element performing. A nice and most welcome surprise saw the return to the set of the original version of Have I Told You Lately which featured Sumudu once more on shared vocals and a lovely piano solo by John McCullough. Down to Joy was followed by Enlightenment featuring Dave Keary on steel guitar and Chris White on flugelhorn to great effect. When introducing Night Time Is The Right Time Van informed us that it was going to feature the backing singers and Sumudu in particular. It was quite powerful and got a great audience response. Sumudu once more featured prominently on Carrying A Torch before an energised rendition of Early In The Mornin' which included some terrific bass playing by David Hayes.
Van strapped on his guitar before starting Green Rocky Road and asked that the house lights be brought up first. When the lights didn't come on instantly Van immediately asked the inevitable and pertinent question "where's the lighting guy?!!". The song itself moved into a segment of Northern Muse with the County Down getting plenty of references!
Real Real Gone/ You Send Me were enthusiastically received and brought the show to its inevitable conclusion in Gloria with the band members performing excellent solos including a particularly brilliant organ solo by John Mc Cullough. Van was in fine voice throughout and was assisted in no small measure by his superb musicians and backing singers in delivering a most enjoyable show.
-Brendan Hynes
Setlist (Thanks Brendan Hynes)
Into The Mystic
Snatch It Back and Hold It
Can't Help Myself/Kansas City
Sometimes We Cry
Symphony Sid
I Believe To My Soul
Ain't Gonna Moan No More
Full Force Gale
Moondance
Have I Told You Lately (Slow Version)
Down To Joy
Enlightenment
Nighttime Is The Right Time
Carrying A Torch
Early In The Mornin'
Green Rocky Road/Excerpt from Northern Muse (Solid Ground)
Real Real Gone/You Send Me
Gloria
Set Length 1 h 42m
Big Hand For The Band!
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)
David Hayes (Bass)
John McCullough (Organ)
Chris White (Saxaphone/Flute)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)
David Hayes (Bass)
John McCullough (Organ)
Chris White (Saxaphone/Flute)
Guy Barker (Trumpet)
Sumudu Jayatilaka (Vocals)
Sumudu Jayatilaka (Vocals)
Katie Kissoon (Vocals)
Jolene O’Hara (Vocals)
Jolene O’Hara (Vocals)
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