As of today (Van’s 70th birthday). I’ve just walked home from the splendid Lamp Post Cafe (https://www.facebook.com/TheLindoresCoffeeHouse), to start about 10 hours of proofreading, and passed a stage full of Van musos soundchecking, down on Cyprus Avenue, with a couple of beefy guys and traffic cones blocking off the end of the adjoining Beersbridge Road.
I asked Van, ‘Why?’ But he told me, ‘It ain’t why, why – it just is…’
For those who are interested, a link to BBC Radio Ulster’s radio broadcast is at the end of the BBC News piece. The BBC NI TV broadcast on Sept 4 will be accessible to anyone in the UK with one of those Virgin multichannel box things (you can find all regional variations of BBC on there if you scroll down diligently enough).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34101711
I know you didn’t fancy it Colin, but wish I was there. Will listen in, hoping he’s on form for the occasion
I don’t really see what the fuss is all about, myself. Mrs H was surprised when she heard ‘Astral Weeks’ playing in the Lap Post Cafe – she didn’t think it was Van. A week ago we were in a bistro across the road from that one and Van’s new duets album was playing (yes, it’s east Belfast, there’s a theme developing…). I suspect that, subliminally, Mrs H associates Van solely with plodding Hammond-organ fuelled music with gruff shouting over it it. Whereas there is, at least, space and dynamics in the acoustic guitar/bass and horns music of his early 70s ouevre.
Thanks for the reminder Colin. I tend to only check those Virgin “high numbers” when I’m bored. – it’s 863. Set the box to record it.
It’s being filmed by Feargal O’Kane, a fantastic musician (drummer, singer, guitar player – in that order) who happens to be a BBC NI producer. Whatever the quality of Van’s two performances, I’m sure the one that’s filmed will be filmed as well as possible, given the unusual/challenging logistics (Van playing at one end of a street, audience up that street in first seats and, at the back, standing).
The Radio Ulster concert MIGHT be different from the BBC NI televised one. I understand the first show will be a reunion with a bunch of pre-Them guys he used to play with. Maybe from the Monarchs showband, or some skiffle era guys – I don’t know for sure.
On the Murdoch Box, BBC NI is Channel 953. 10.35pm, Friday night.
‘Goin’ down to Channel 953, Channel 953… playin’ R’n’B down by Avalon, down by Avalon, down by Cypress Avalon, playin’ skiffle wi’ the lads from Hyndford Street, Hyndford Street, hand me down my greatcoat, hand me down by big boots, and hand me down that umbrella while yer at it, ‘cos it’s rainin’ right now… Sidney Bechet, Geordie Best, Mahalia Jackson, Davy’s Chipper, Jimmy Witherspoon, Arthur Askey, DeLorean cars, Bushmills Whisky, Mary Peters, Fusco’s Ice Cream, Ian Paisley, Ian Paisley, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Surrender, down by the Titanic Quarter, er, um, er….’
[continues, against a backdrop of mid-tempo Hammond organ grooves, for precisely one hour and 15 minutes]
To be on your tellybox this Sunday night on BBC4 at half ten: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b068fvks
Two notable things about the set broadcast today on Radio Ulster: (a) he told a joke; (b) he didn’t play ‘Cyprus Avenue’.
Listen here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0681pb7#play
Van Morrison, stand-up comedian…
“How many record company executives does it take to change a lightbulb? NONE! they’re all bloodsucking parasites!”
“An Englishman, an Irishman and a record company executive walk into a bar. The record company executive gets thrown out because he’s a bloodsucking parasite!”
“Knock knock!
Who’s there?
A record company executive
FECK OFF YOU BLOODSUCKING PARASITE!”
eyethangyew ladeeesngennlemen mynamesvanmorrisongoodNIGHT!”
Houston, I can confirm we have radio contact, radio contact from Australia, Houston.
Sound being received loud and clear on the BBC thingy.
Is Mahalia Jackson coming through the ether yet? Or Justin?
That
Lunge jazz stuff is a bit meh but some nice singing.
Had me thinking compare his voice at his time of life and ole gravel voice Bob.
doesn’t tour as much or smoke as much,I don’t think, but all the same,one with a good voice still the other gone completely.
Bob? It’s real, real gone. But then again, I heard Van was smokin’ up in Kendal, with William Blake… TS Eliot… Wordsworth’n’Coleridge… Didyaeverhearaboutdidyaeverhearaboutdidyaeverhearabout…. etc etc
I watched the Broadcast highlights I really enjoyed it thanks ColinH for the nod. I think I may have had something in my eye when he sang ‘Take me back’ at the end.