There are artists you admire and artists you love.
For me, Van Morrison sits in a category all of his own.
If I had to choose a favourite artist, it would be Van without hesitation. His catalogue has been the soundtrack to countless moments in my life, from the transcendent beauty of Astral Weeks to the soulful brilliance of albums like Moondance, Into the Music and Common One. So when he announced a run of dates in England and Ireland, I was disappointed — but not entirely surprised — to discover that Scotland had once again been overlooked.
Fortunately, Belfast was on the itinerary.
The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like the perfect excuse for a trip. It had been around thirty years since I had last visited the city. As a child, I spent many summer holidays there visiting my gran, and the idea of returning to walk familiar streets while also seeing my favourite artist was simply too tempting to ignore.
What started as a concert trip quickly became something more personal.
Initially, I planned to buy a ticket for just one of the Belfast shows. Then common sense lost the argument.
Before long I had booked tickets for two nights.
After sorting out the flights, Van promptly announced a third date. Naturally, I wanted to attend that one as well, but by then the bank account had already waved a white flag. Two concerts would have to do.
It’s a hard life.
Returning to Belfast after three decades was a strange and moving experience. Some places were exactly as I remembered them, while others had changed beyond recognition. Walking around the city brought back memories I hadn’t thought about in years. It’s remarkable how certain streets, buildings and landmarks can instantly reconnect you with childhood.
The concerts themselves were everything I had hoped for.
Van Morrison remains one of those rare artists who seems completely unconcerned with nostalgia. While many performers spend their later years trading exclusively on past glories, Van continues to follow his own instincts. His setlists often move effortlessly between classics, deep cuts and newer material, keeping audiences guessing from one night to the next.
That’s one of the reasons I keep going back.
You never quite know what you’re going to get.
The second night proved especially memorable.
Not only did I somehow end up with what felt like the best seat in the house, but I also found myself sitting across the aisle from none other than Glen Hansard. As a fan of both The Frames and his solo work, it was a pleasant surprise to spot him in the audience.
After the show, I managed to have a brief chat with him.
It’s one of those small moments that make concert trips even more memorable. You travel to another country to see your favourite artist and end up unexpectedly bumping into another musician whose work you admire.
Not a bad bonus.
Looking back, the trip turned into far more than just a couple of concerts. It became a journey back to a city that had played an important role in my childhood, a chance to revisit old memories and an opportunity to see my favourite artist performing on home soil.
The videos and photographs below capture some of the music, but they only tell part of the story. The real highlight was being back in Belfast after thirty years, walking familiar streets by day and listening to Van Morrison by night.
Some trips are worth every penny.
Even if they leave you unable to afford tickets for the third show.
I was going to buy tickets for just one night but couldn’t resist booking two. After we booked our flights he announced a third date but I didn’t have any money left to buy tickets for that. I got the best seat in the house for the second date and across the aisle from me was Glen Hansard who I had a brief chat with after the show.
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