15-January-2023
Electric Ballroom
 London, England

Setlist (Thanks Pam K.)

Freight Train 

Sail Away Ladies 

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Mama Don’t Allow (re-worked as Gov Don’t Allow) 

Take This Hammer 

 I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree 

Oh, Lonesome Me 

Streamline Train 

Come On In 

No Other Baby

I’m Movin’ On 

Yonder Comes A Sucker 

The Gypsy Davy 

Travellin’ Blues 

Cold Cold Heart 

This Loving Light Of Mine 

Cotton Fields 

Green Rocky Road 

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Dana Masters (Vocals)

14-January-2023
Electric Ballroom
 London, England

Brighton & Hove News (Source) 

VAN MORRISON – ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON 14.1.23

 

Tonight’s show is no normal Van Morrison gig, and it’s status as not being such has been widely publicised. For tonight’s show at the Electric Ballroom (184 Camden High Street, London, NW1 8QP) is one of a number of intimate low-key launch shows for Van’s new album, ‘Moving On Skiffle’, which is released on 10th March. This album (and indeed tonight’s show) finds Van taking the 1950s skiffle style and interpreting it with a degree of soul and sophistication that it rarely had the first time around. Tonight’s show very much represents Van returning to his musical roots. 

This isn’t just a different kind of gig for Van. As a veteran of many gigs at this venue for over twenty years, I can confirm that this is the first time that I have seen the place configured as a seated venue. I’m not sure how many tickets were available for this sold out show, but it’s considerably less than the venue’s usual 1,500 capacity. The areas around the bars are very sparsely populated. Getting a drink here has never been so easy!!! 

The band take the stage and begin playing ‘Freight Train’, an Elizabeth Cotton cover that I remember my mother singing when I was small. Van joins the band onstage a minute or two later, after being announced by his guitarist, precisely at 8pm, as advertised. Almost immediately Van demonstrates that he is so much more than just a singer, as he blows a mean harmonica solo. The band is beyond well drilled. Including Van there are eight of them. Van does introduce them later on, but his introductions are drowned out by applause. The only name I catch is Sticky Wicket on percussion. I somehow doubt that is the name his parents gave him. In addition to the band there is also a man who changes the music on Van’s music stand after most songs. 

One of the road crew later tells me that the band don’t have set-lists. They have rehearsed a large number of songs, and Van decides after each song what is going to be played next. This is quite astonishing, and only goes to show how well rehearsed the band are. By and large there is barely breathing space between the songs, with Van keeping the tempo of the show decidedly brisk. At one point after Van has decided on the next song, there is much frenzied changing of instruments onstage. Talk about being kept on your toes! Van seems incredibly relaxed throughout. Well he would be: he’s calling the shots! 

Van clearly has a band of virtuosos here. The guitarist also plays a lap steel on a stand. On ‘Come On In’ the rhythm guitarist plays a trumpet with a mute. This is before we consider what Van plays. As well as harp he plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar (on which he solos), and some really quite incredible saxophone as well. Van is very much the bandleader, and all eyes are on him. On ‘Take This Hammer’, which Van tells us is a Lead Belly cover, he conducts the band at the beginning of the song. However, when the various band members take their solos, Van shuns the spotlight. Well, until it’s time for him to take his harp solo! 

Van’s voice remains a wonderful musical instrument. It’s rich and powerful, but can be tender too. Apart from having become slightly deeper than before, his voice has hardly changed over the decades, which is more than can be said for some of his contemporaries, one of whom I saw recently could now barely carry a tune in a bucket. Van’s vocal cords appear to have many miles left in them yet! 

Tonight’s show has been wonderful. As far as I’m aware the set has been almost made up entirely of covers from sixty or seventy years ago, but they’ve all been played in very much a Van Morrison style. At the end of the show there are some people moaning that there has been no ‘Moondance’, ‘Cleaning Windows’,’ Into The Mystic’ or ‘Gloria’. Well more fool them! They should have done their homework. This has been an absolute masterclass in terms of both singing and playing, and quite frankly, if you can’t enjoy a show like this, then you don’t really enjoy music. 

-Mark Kelly 

The Sunday Times (Source)

Van Morrison review — Van the Man triumphantly returns to his first love Electric Ballroom, NW1 

★★★★★ 

I’m not sure I’ve seen him this happy. OK, he wasn’t smiling — don’t be ridiculous — and he hardly threw himself around. He’s three years off 80 and his days of onstage high-kicking are behind him. Yet there was an undeniable joy in the way Van Morrison attacked this intimate preview of Moving on Skiffle, the covers album he releases in March. Skiffle — that raw, shimmying offshoot of folk that peaked in the UK in the Fifties — is one of his first loves. He first heard it as a child at the Atlantic Records shop in Belfast and formed a skiffle band at school with “a couple of guitars, washboard, tea-chest bass” 

Read on here.

 Setlist (Album Launch For Moving On Skiffle)

Freight Train  

Streamlined Cannonball

In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Gov Don't Allow 

Take This Hammer 

I Wish Was an Apple on a Tree 

Careless Love 

Streamline Train 

Come On In 

No Other Baby 

Greenback Dollar 

I’m Movin’ On 

Travellin' Blues

Yonder Comes a Sucker 

Gypsy Davy 

Green Rocky Road 

Cotton Fields 

Worried Man Blues 

This Loving Light of Mine

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Dana Masters (Vocals)

04-December-2022
Europa Hotel
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Setlist (Thanks Brenden Hynes)
Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues/ Keep Mediocrity At Bay 

Streamline Train 

Days Like This 

Baby Please Don't Go/ Don't Start Crying Now 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Early In The Morning 

Precious Time 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More 

Magic Time 

Have I Told You Lately

Little Village 

Send You Back To Where I Got You From 

Symphony Sid 

Wild Night 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Down To Joy 

Help Me 

Gloria

Set Time 1h 28m
(Van on stage 1 h 20m)

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Gary Sanctuary (Keyboards)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)
Darren Beckett (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals)

08-October-2022
The Colosseum Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, USA

Setlist 

Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues

Keep Mediocrity at Bay

Can't Go On This Way 

Days Like This 

Broken Record 

Satisfied 

Baby Please Don't Go/I Got My Mojo Working 

I'm Going Down To The River 

Laughin' & Clownin' 

Wild Night

Dweller On The Threshold
Carrying A Torch
The New Symphony Sid
The Healing Game

Jackie Wilson Said
Precious Time

Ballerina
Down To Joy 

In The Garden

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

John Allair (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

07-October-2022
The Colosseum Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, USA

Setlist 

Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues

Keep Mediocrity at Bay

Can't Go On This Way 

Days Like This 

Did Ye Get Healed? 

Raincheck 

Baby Please Don't Go/I Got My Mojo Working 

I'm Going Down To The River 

Hello Josephine 

Precious Time 

Laughin' & Clownin' 

Early In The Morning

The Healing Game 

She Gives Me Religion 

Across The Bridge Where Angels Dwell 

Dweller On The Threshold 

Down To Joy 

In The Garden

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

John Allair (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

07-September-2022
Wolf Trap
Vienna, USA

Setlist 

Dangerous 

Thank God for the Blues 

Stage Name 

Days Like This 

Have I Told You Lately 

Raincheck 

Dweller on the Threshold 

I've Been Working 

Somebody Have Mercy 

You're Driving Me Crazy 

Laughin' and Clownin' 

Early in the Mornin' 

Baby, Please Don't Go/Got My Mo-Jo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

The New Symphony Sid 

I Just Want to Make Love to You 

Down to Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

Brian Byrne (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

04-September-2022
Koussevitzky Music Shed
Lenox, USA

Boston Globe (Source)

LENOX — On Sunday night, Van Morrison had the yips. Like, the literal yips. Leading his unimpeachable nine-piece band on the stage of the music shed at Tanglewood, midway through the set he punctuated a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Early in the Morning” with a staccato vocal that consisted solely of several “yips.” 

At 77, the Belfast native can still wring some real elation out of his instrument — his voice. At Tanglewood, his peak moments often came not in the lyrical gold of his own catalog but the wordless pleasure he takes in bopping the old songs that still make him tick. “Shoo bop shoo bop,” he sang on “Travellin’ Light,” a song with lyrics that Johnny Mercer wrote for Billie Holiday in 1942. 

“A-a-a-a-a-a-h!” he blurted a little later, emulating the wobble of the Hammond B-3 organ as he directed his gaze at his keyboardist. Those seem to be the moments that keep Morrison onstage. Most singers would have a hard time suppressing their joy when they hit on an inspiration. Opening act James Hunter certainly grinned broadly when he returned to the stage to sing with the headliner, duetting on Sam Cooke’s “Somebody Have Mercy.” 

But Morrison keeps his emotions under his natty hat. Inscrutable behind his aviator shades, he led his band with an iron fist, punching it in the direction of a soloist when their turn arrived. Once or twice he made a little bursting motion for rhythmic emphasis. His disdain for playing the hits has been well documented. On Sunday, the band played “Jackie Wilson Said” — ting a ling a ling, ting a ling a ling — and sent the sold-out crowd home with what they came for, an obligatory “Brown Eyed Girl” and an incessant “Gloria.” 

But those weren’t the tunes that got him through the night. He opened with “Dangerous,” a recent grievance song (“Somebody said I was dangerous/I must be gettin’ close to the truth”) and another COVID-era original, “Thank God for the Blues.” “Days Like This” felt tossed off, but it put Morrison’s saxophone in his hands, clearing the way for him and the band to segue into a swinging version of “Have I Told You Lately.” The lounge-y arrangements of that and “You’re Driving Me Crazy,” another old standard (1930!), let him stand apart from the band as surely as his white suit contrasted with their all-black wardrobe. 

The latter was the title song of Morrison’s 2018 collaboration with the organist Joey DeFrancesco. Standing at his golden microphone, Morrison paid tribute to the keyboardist, who died in August at age 51. 

As standoffish as he can seem, paying tribute suits him. He sang through his harmonica on “Baby Please Don’t Go,” the blues traditional that gave Morrison his first hit with his youthful band Them. Then he mashed that one up with “Got My Mojo Working.” But the high point might have come halfway through the set, when Morrison doubled down on the Labor Day weekend theme with “I’ve Been Working,” his own song from the 1970 album “His Band and the Street Choir.” 

How many times in a row can he bang on the word “woman,” or the ad-lib “all right”? The answer is, as many times as he’s feeling it. It’s his job. He’s very good at it. If it thrills him, he’s not about to let on. 

-James Sullivan

Setlist

Dangerous

Thank God For The Blues 

Keep Mediocrity At Bay 

Stage Name 

Days Like This

Have I Told You Lately (w/Elle Cato)

Baby Please Don't Go/Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go

Somebody Have Mercy (w/James Hunter)

Dweller On The Threshold 

I've Been Working 

You're Driving Me Crazy (For Joey DeFrancesco) 

Raincheck  

Laughing & Clowning 

Early In The Morning (Just About The Break of Day) 

Travelin' Light 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Down To Joy 

Help Me (w/James Hunter) 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria (w/James Hunter)

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

Brian Byrne (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

03-September-2022
Leader Bank Pavillion
 Boston, USA

Music News (Source)

One of the most legendary natives of Belfast, Ireland, Van Morrison has lived one of the most-storied careers in all of rock history. From the magical days in the '60s when he fronted the blues-pop ensemble, Them, Morrison's pipes are one of the most instantly recognizable ever.

Morrison performed to a near sold-out audience at the Leader Bank Pavillion in Boston, Massachusetts on September 3, 2022. 

While his voice is always in top form, Morrison sounded spectacular on the opening cuts of newer material such as "Dangerous" (from 2022's "What's It Gonna Take?" album), and "Thank God For The Blues" (lifted from 2021's "Latest Record Project, Volume 1"). 

Never shy about going deep into his catalog, Morrison did a beautiful rendition of "Precious Time" (from his criminally underrated 1999 disc, "Back On Top"). He also created some amazing blues moments at the Pavillion, during both an interpretation of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Tell Me" and a medley of "Baby, Please Don't Go"/"Got My Mojo Working", when Morrison played his most impressive harmonica work of the night. Sandwiched in between the blues numbers, Morrison gave a nod to the Motown sound, with a rollicking take of Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)". 

Morrison threw out a tasteful cover of John Lee Hooker's "Think Twice Before You Go", followed by a most surprising song choice in honor of recently-deceased jazz multi-instrumentalist, Joey DeFrancesco, whom Morrison had played with. He performed "You're Driving Me Crazy" (written in the '30s, the song was made popular by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians). 

Except for moments as when he dedicated the song to DeFrancesco, Morrison kept the between-song chatter to a minimum. 

While he did not join him onstage, Peter Wolf (lead singer of The J. Geils Band) was spotted in the Pavillion during the evening. Not surprising, as the two have had a decades-long friendship going back to when Morrison resided in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts during the late '60s. 

After the spiritually-inspired "In the Garden" and "Down to Joy", which was most recently featured in the 2021 film, "Belfast", Morrison's set really caught fire. Beginning with a raucous "Wild Night" and an outstanding interpretation of Sonny Boy Williamson's blues classic, "Help Me", Morrison concluded the show with his iconic "Brown Eyed Girl", followed by an epic version of "Gloria". 

While "Gloria" was penned by Morrison during his time in Them, it was The Shadows of Knight who recorded the most popular version of the song, which cracked the Top-10 in 1966. Sadly, The Shadows of Knight's lead vocalist, Jimy Sohms, passed away last month. Although Morrison never said a word about his death (being a man of few words), it very well may have been his unspoken tribute to Sohms. 

Morrison left the stage during "Gloria" and his phenomenal nine-piece-backing band continued to jam on "Gloria" for nearly another 10 minutes, each taking brief solos on their respective instruments. And while the crowd seemingly expected Morrison to return at some point, he never did. So, when the jam ended, the concert did as well. 

-John Reed

Setlist 

Dangerous

Thank God For The Blurs 

Stage Name 

Days Like This 

Think Twice Before You Go

Raincheck 

Precious Time 

Tell Me (Have Mercy Baby?) 

Money 

Baby Please Don't Go /Got My Mojo Working

These Dreams Of You 

You’re Drivin' Me Crazy (For Joey DeFrancesco)

I’ve Been Workin' 

Dweller on the Threshold 

In The Garden 

Down To Joy 

Wild Night 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

Brian Byrne (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

01-September-2022
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
 Bridgeport, USA

Setlist (Thanks Art S.)

Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues/

Keep Mediocrity at Bay 

Up County Down 

Days Like This 

Baby Please Don't Go/Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Precious Time Money (with James Hunter) 

Baby what You Want Me To Do (with James Hunter) 

Dweller On The Threshold 

I've Been Working 

Have I Told You Lately (with Elle Cato) 

Raincheck 

Early In The Morning (Just About The Break of Day) 

Laughing & Clowning 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Wild Night 

Down To Joy 

Help Me (with James Hunter) 

Brown Eyed Girl
Gloria (with James Hunter)

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Percussion)

Brian Byrne (Organ)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)

28-June-2022
Cork Opera House
Cork, Ireland 

                                                        via Othmar M.

Brendan Hynes sent in his thoughts on 2nd Cork gig:

Van Morrison got the second of his two shows at this nice intimate venue underway with an extended and somewhat funked up arrangement of Dangerous on which the band excelled. The one missing ingredient was the driving fiddle playing which is so prominent on the recorded version. Thank God for the Blues was sung with great gusto by Van and was followed by Pretending from the new album. Days Like This brought the show into more mainstream territory and was followed by a really good These Dreams Of You on which Matt Holland on trumpet and Chris White on saxophone excelled. Higher Than The World was quite superb and brought proceedings to an exalted level commensurate with the song title. Centrepiece was much more interesting than many previous versions I have heard largely due to the impact of the brass section. What a wise decision it was by Van to restore the brass section as it certainly complements his music hugely and adds considerably to the overall band sound. 

Got My Mojo Working was particularly notable for an extended harmonica note which Van held for what seemed like an eternity much to the amusement of some band members. I had visions of Van turning blue in the face from the lack of oxygen intake which would have been an interesting sight as it would have perfectly matched the colour of his now infamous blue suit. Think Twice Before You Go followed immediately afterwards much to the excitement of the audience who clapped along furiously as the song commenced. Laughin' and Clownin' reached heights I have rarely heard before and featured great solos from Richard Dunn on organ and Chris White on saxophone in particular. Precious Time was followed by the rarely played Steal Your Heart Away which was a welcome addition. Enlightenment and Magic Time followed in quick succession after which there was an audience request for The Healing Game which was quickly dismissed by Van who instead shouted " Wild Night" to the band. This didn't really qualify as a consolation prize in my view and a separate audience request for Streets of Arklow did not find favour either with Van so both of the musical gems requested were not unearthed on this occasion . 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More featured Dave Keary prominently on guitar while Jackie Wilson Said saw Van and the brass section combine instrumentally to great effect. Down to Joy indicated that the end was approaching but not before Van took us on an all so welcome journey Into The Mystic. 

The encore consisted of Help Me and Gloria with the latter once more providing the band with the latitude to cut loose after Van had departed. Chris White's extended saxaphone solo drew lots of whistles and shouts of acclaim from the audience.Matt Holland showed how quickly he has settled back into the band as he went off on a bit of a solo run on trumpet which included excerpts from Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water and Cream's Sunshine Of Your Love. Not to be outdone, Teena Lyle's solo consisted of a xylophone rendition of Crazy Love. Elle Cato of course nearly blew the roof off the Opera House with her brilliant vocal contribution. The Gloria jam session has now become a small sideshow in it's own right. 

Van's vocals were really strong throughout and the band are playing at a level considerably above what I have heard in recent years. It is disappointing however that the meditative workshop numbers in which Van totally immerses himself and which his dedicated fans love so much are largely absent from his shows of late as was the case again tonight. 

-Brendan Hynes

Setlist 

Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues 

Pretending 

Days Like This 

These Dreams Of You 

Higher Than The World 

Centrepiece 

Baby Please Don't Go/ Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Laughin' and Clownin' 

Precious Time 

Steal My Heart Away 

Enlightenment 

Magic Time 

Wild Night 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Down To Joy 

Celtic Excavation/ Into The Mystic 

Help Me 

Gloria 

Set Time 1h 45m 

Van on stage 1h 34m

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet) 
Dave Keary (Guitar)

Paul Moore (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

Richard Dunn (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

27-June-2022
Cork Opera House
Cork, Ireland 

Setlist (Thanks Brendan Hynes) 

Dangerous 

Thank God For The Blues 

My Time After A While 

Pretending 

Stage Name 

Days Like This 

Higher Than The World 

Baby Please Don't Go/ Got 

My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Laughin' And Clownin' 

Symphony Sid 

Magic Time 

Broken Record 

Cleaning Windows 

In The Afternoon 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Down To Joy 

Precious Time 

Celtic Excavation/ Into The Mystic 

Help Me 

Gloria 

Set Time 1h 50m

Van on stage 1h 36m

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet) 
Dave Keary (Guitar)

Paul Moore (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

Richard Dunn (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

19-June-2022
Black Deer Festival
Kent, England 

Kent Online (Source) 

Van Morrison performs at Black Deer Festival as final day comes to a close Following last night's wobble with the weather causing the festival to pull the plug, all fingers were crossed that no storm would stop the final day of Black Deer Festival. Many of course were looking forward to the headline act today - the legendary Van Morrison to make his appearance on the main stage. 

Across Eridge Park, bands and singers made sure to go out with a bang before the end of the day and leave festival-goers on a high note. 

Along at the Acoustic Stage, award-winning songwriter Chris Fox charmed all with his one-man-band approach. 

Standing with just a guitar and loop pedal, Chris took audiences through a musical journey of folk, blues and country, stopping off along the way to tell more about the story behind each song. 

Next door at The Roadhouse was Franky Perez, who filled the packed tent with American soul and foot-stomping-beats. 

Audience interaction was key, with a call and response style for each song provoking the crowd to chant back together. 

Round at the Live Fire stage, Marcus Bawdon, dubbed the 'King of the BBQ', gave viewers a masterclass on the rump steak - naming it "the good, the bad and the ugly." 

After everyone was practically drooling, audiences were able to try the finished product, along with a special Argentinian sauce called Chimichurri, made from fresh herbs, garlic, vinegar, chili pepper and olive oil. 

Following last nights' antics, many were relieved to see clear skies above, and eagerly waited for the main man to arrive. 

As soon as it hit 7.20pm, the epitome of jazz and Celtic soul entered the main stage - Sir Van Morrison, donned in his classic hat, sunglasses and suit combo. 

Van delivered soft folksy blues with songs including Days Like This, the New Symphony Sid and Broken Record. 

He also gave a soulful and upbeat performances of the much loved classics Brown Eyed Gir" and Moondance, where everyone cheered in unison when he started playing the famous tunes. So how do you top all of that? 

Canadian band the Dead South certainly made sure to turn it up a notch with their banjo-infused tunes taken straight from the south. 

As the final notes were strummed on the main stage, and the cheers and tunes died out, Black Deer had sadly drawn to a close. 

After three days of what was good music, good food, good times, and the typical drama of British weather, the festival's two-year hiatus was certainly worth the wait.

Co-founders Gill Tee and Deb Shilling commented: “We’re overwhelmed seeing so many people who love what we stand for. "

After three years in the making, Black Deer Festival 2022 has exceeded our expectations. 

"The way our wonderful community has responded to all of the team's hard work makes this event what it is." 

 -Cara Simmonds 

Setlist 

Thank God for the Blues 

It Hurts Mee Too 

Days Like This 

And It Stoned Me 

The Mystery 

Did Ye Get Healed?

Baby, Please Don't Go  

I Can Tell  

Moondance 

Broken Record  

Precious Time 

Sometimes We Cry  

Wild Night

Cleaning Windows 

Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet) 
Dave Keary (Guitar)

Paul Moore (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

Richard Dunn (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

10-June-2022
Molleplatsen
Malmo, Sweden 

Setlist (Thanks Morten G.)

Dangerous 

UP County Down 

Thank God for the Blues 

My Time After a While 

Days Like This 

Higher Than the World 

Broken Record 

The Mystery 

Everyday I Have The Blues 

Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough 

Cleaning Windows 

Laughin' & Clownin' 

Precious Times 

The Healing Game 

These Dreams of You 

Jackie Wilson Said 

Real Real Gone 

Down To Joy 

Hjelp Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet) 
Dave Keary (Guitar)

Paul Moore (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

Richard Dunn (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

08-June-2022
Skansen
Stockholm, Sweden 

Setlist (Thanks Morten G.)

Centerpiece/Every Day I Have The Blues/Times Gettin’ Tougher Than Tough 

Up County Down 

Thank God For The Blues

My Time After Awhile

Days Like This

Someone Like You 

Baby Please Don’t Go/Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

I Don’t want To Go On Without You 

Just a Little Bit 

These Are The Days

New Symphony Sid
Broken Record 

Full Force Gale

Higher Than The World

Precious Time 

Wild Night 

Real Real Gone 

Sometimes We Cry 

Down To Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)

Matt Holland (Trumpet) 
Dave Keary (Guitar)

Paul Moore (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

Richard Dunn(Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

23 & 24-May-2022
Liverpool Philharmonic
Liverpool, England 

Setlist (24-May-2022 / Thanks Brenden Hynes) 

Latest Record Project 

My Time After A While 

Up County Down 

Thank God For The Blues 

What's It Gonna Take 

Dangerous 

Days Like This 

Someone Like You 

Baby Please Don't Go/ Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Laughin' And Clownin' 

Precious Time 

Carrying A Torch 

I Can't Stop Loving You 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More 

Broken Record 

Wild Night 

Cleaning Windows 

Down To Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria 

Set Time 1h 41m 

Van on stage 1h 29m

Setlist (23-May-2022 / Thanks Brenden Hynes)

Caledonia Swing 

Latest Record Project 

Thank God For The Blues 

What's It Gonna Take 

My Time After A While 

Days Like This 

Someone Like You 

Baby Please Don't Go/ Got My Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

Sometimes We Cry 

Enlightenment 

Precious Time 

Magic Time 

Have I Told You Lately 

Symphony Sid 

Cleaning Windows 

Early In The Morning 

Wild Night 

Down To Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria 

Set time 1h 38m 

Van on stage 1h 27m

04-May-2022
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, USA

Sean checks in with Nashville Night 2 

"CHECKING IT OUT IN REAL TIME" 

Another expansive, explosive night in Nashville. Van featured 9 different songs from the previous evening. My Time After A While was a heartbreaking personal reflection with the touching line "I just want to see my darling children smile." Both this song and Days Like This that followed featured aggressive fluttering sax work from Van. Satisfied was epic tonight with Van deep in the groove and sent into a fit of bent over chuckling in response to the richness of the feeling. Before launching into And it Stoned Me Van mentioned it was the 130th Anniversary of the Ryman Auditorium and offered his congratulations. 

Next up was a sweet treat of Full Force Gale. Raincheck was again delivered as a personal statement of resolve and determination. Van cut the Baby Please medley short to get to the song he really wanted to sing which was a blistering version of Think Twice Before You Go. Then in tribute to the hallowed surroundings Van sang I Can't Stop Loving You and a wonderfully expressive What Am I Living For? Ain't Gonna Moan was a tribute to the masters of vocalese sung by a master himself. The audience got a kick out of Broken Record. 

The stage was set for a thrilling finale with a heartfelt In The Midnight. The sprawling workshop In The Afternoon went down numerous highways and byways with Van communing with the audience about the miles of coastline and golden sand by repeating a new lyric "Checking it out in Real Time" which he repeated again and again. Into The Mystic sparked instant recognition and appreciation. 

Down to Joy concluded the main set with fervor and passion as Van thanked the crowd and walked off into the wings. The traditional finale followed with two crowd pleasers. Van thanked the crowd again and mentioned how great it was to be back in Nashville. The players got to show off their skills with wonderful solos. 

A special note about how the entire proceedings every night are anchored by David Hayes bass sounding like God's thunder. Van's joyous approach to the music was illustrated by his punching the air in every direction. Eight shows in to this extended run each performance has been a master class. Onto the Windy City with 2 days of well deserved rest. 

Setlist 

Latest Record Project 

Thank God for the Blues 

My Time After A While 

Days Like This 

Satisfied/Organ Grinder Jam 

And it Stoned Me 

Full Force Gale 

Raincheck 

Baby Please Don't Go 

Think Twice Before You Go 

I Can't Stop Loving You 

What Am I Living For? 

Ain't Gonna Moan No More 

Broken Record 

In The Midnight 

In The Afternoon/Joe Turner Sings/Don't You Make Me High/All Along The Coastline/Ancient Highway/Burning Ground/Checking It Out in Real Time/Can You See It?/Sitting Pretty 

Celtic Excavation/Into The Mystic 

Down to Joy 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

John Allair (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Percussion)

03-May-2022
Ryman auditorium
Nashville, USA

Sean sends in his thoughts on Ryman gig night 1 

A rapturous standing ovation from a keyed up Ryman audience greeted Van before he blew or sang a note. Up County Down was a syncopated wonder. Van sprang an early surprise by bringing on Joss Stone for a popping, jumping Someone Like You. Her voice soaring over Van's vocal created a beautiful fusion. The big surprise of the night came next with Van and Joss reprising their version of Wild Honey from the underrated Duets album. This version surpassed the studio version. Van took the song down into a low moan that he held and then went into a repetition of the word "the light" that was endlessly glowing. A fist pump and a loud "yeah" from Van showed how much he enjoyed the interaction with Joss as she exited to great applause. 

Up next was a slow, sultry funkified Satisfied. The band and Van laying down a righteous groove that was powerfully on point. John Allair got to shine as Van said "Shall we do, shall we do, organ grinder jam? The Moondance nuggets And it Stoned Me and These Dreams of You featured classic John Platania solos. Raincheck continues to be delivered with a heartfelt power. The band exuded a big enveloping sound all night with Chris White providing numerous dynamic horn solos. The audience, Van and the band then rocked through the Baby Please medley and Think Twice Before You Go which got the full John Lee Hooker treatment. 

Van then mentioned that he'd done a country album but couldn't recall when it came out. He did a song he wrote for the project called This Has Got To Stop that featured a great pedal steel solo from Dave Keary. A sweet Enlightenment slowed things down a bit along with a beautifully delivered Carrying a Torch that let everyone catch their collective breath. A crowd pleasing Cleaning Windows with followed. 

Van has turned Down to Joy into an epic emotional life affirming statement. Van closed the show out with the usual Help Me, BEG and a joyous Gloria in which the band shines with a new arrangement to the extended instrumental coda. Another powerhouse performance from an artist and his band that continues to evolve and gel with stunning energy. 

Setlist 

Caledonia Swing 

Latest Record Project 

Thank God for the Blues 

Up County Down 

Days Like This 

Someone Like You (w/Joss Stone) 

Wild Honey (w/Joss Stone) 

Satisfied 

And it Stoned Me 

These Dreams of You 

Raincheck 

Baby Please/Parchman Farm/Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

This Has Got To Stop 

Enlightenment 

Carrying A Torch 

Laughin' and Clownin' 

Cleaning Windows 

Down to Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

John Allair (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Percussion)