We had already seen Van Morrison four times in the last year but couldn’t resist going to Belfast to see his 80th birthday gig. His daughter Shana, was the support act.
Here is Van’s full set, which include guest spots by Chris Farlowe and Ronnie Wood.
I met one another guest, Kevin Fitzgerald Burke after the show and asked him for an interview for which I am happy to say he agreed and I thought it would only be for a couple of minutes but it lasted for twenty.
“I was honored to be a part of Van Morrison’s 80th Birthday Concert at Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Sunday, August 31, 2025. I haven’t posted music affairs on here in years, but this was a special night (so here goes). I came to Belfast only to fete Van for his 80th, be he asked me to come to 3 pm soundcheck (no other info). So after they run through the set with Ronnie Wood, et al, Van asks me “Kev, you want to do something?” – “I’d love to, Van” says I. So his lovely daughter, Shana, suggests “Centerpiece” (which he recorded with Georgie Fame). We run through it and he’s happy. Then we all go to an early dinner in Belfast (Ron Wood, btw, is hilarious and completely loves Van – he was excited to be there – a true mensch!). Van splits early back to the venue to go rest before the show while the rest of us continue eatin’ n’ rappin’. But Van’s assistant returns and tells me “Van would like you to come to his room by 6:30 to run over something”. Cool…I show up and Van says “We’re gonna do this one instead” and plays me “Broken Record” (12 bar blues w/ a bridge – he recorded this w/ Kurt Elling on his recent Duets album), which I’d heard once or twice before. So I take the next 80 minutes to learn the tune, digest the lyrics, etc. We knock it out mid-set (after Chris Farlowe’s feature) and it goes smashingly! (Btw, before the song begins I say “How about Happy 80th Birthday to Van, Yes?” to the crowd – because no one had yet mentioned it – and they go nuts, giving Van a 5-minute standing ovation – super touching and magical). I believe I’m done for the night and I stand in the wings to enjoy the rest of the show as Van brings on Ronnie Wood. After a few numbers (Who Do You Love, Mona) Van says to Ronnie “Let’s do some blues” and calls for “Stormy Monday”. As they’re launching into it Van calls out on the mic, “Where’s Kevin. Come on up and scat with us!” The stage manager grabs my arm and says “GO!” We then blow it out and proceed to the finale, “Gloria” – crowd passionately joining in. Needless to say, it’s quite surreal singing “Gloria” with Van in Belfast on his 80th Birthday. I love me some Van (!) – Happy Birthday Maestro ! God Loves Me… kfb”
The Photos
Cheers!
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