Van Morrison to headline Heritage Live Concert at Audley End
One of music's true originals, Van Morrison, has announced an outdoor show at English Heritage's Audley End House.
The legendary Northern Irish singer-songwriter will be supported at the Heritage Live Concert on Saturday, August 15, by The Waterboys, the British-Irish folk-rock band formed by Scottish musician Mike Scott.
Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison is a master of genres from the British R&B, which originally made his name, to jazz, Celtic and soul.
The 74-year-old's commercial success is well documented – Brown Eyed Girl, Gloria, Here Comes The Night, Jackie Wilson Said, Bright Side Of The Road, Have I Told You Lately – the list goes on.
Born of his Irish Showband instincts, live performance has been a consistent feature of Morrison's career. Over the course of his 50-year career, Van Morrison has been recognised with awards and accolades such as a knighthood, a Brit, an OBE, an Ivor Novello, six Grammys, honorary doctorates from Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster, entry into The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and the French Ordres Des Artes Et Des Lettres, which all attest to the international reach of Van the Man's music.
He released his latest album Three Chords And The Truth last year, his sixth album in just four years, to critical acclaim.
The Waterboys share his reputation for a great live performance. From their mid-1980s "big music" period through the influential mix of Celtic, gospel and country on their classic Fisherman's Blues tours, to the hundreds of shows accompanying the last decade's soulful triptych of albums Modern Blues, Out Of All This Blue and Where The Action Is, The Waterboys consistently blend tightness, inspiration and improvisation.
The 2020 version of the band features the established core of Mike Scott (vocals, guitar, piano), Steve Wickham (electric fiddle), Memphis keyboard great "Brother" Paul Brown, ace British drummer Ralph Salmins, and funky Irish bassist Aongus Ralston.
The relevance and popular reach of The Waterboys has never been greater. The band's songs have been performed by artists as varied as Ellie Goulding, who scored a top-three UK hit with How Long Will I Love You and classic rockers Tom Jones and Rod Stewart.
Their biggest hit, The Whole Of The Moon, also featured in last year's smash Netflix film Let It Snow and top HBO series The Affair.
The Heritage Live Concert Series is now in its third year at Audley End near Saffron Walden and has previously hosted artists such as The Human League, The Jacksons, Jess Glynne, The Hives, ABC and 2Cellos.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and pre-sale begins on Thursday, February 27 at 9am with general sale from Friday, February 28 at 9am.
- Standard size hampers are allowed on site with food and sealed bottles of water but no alcohol is permitted within the hamper. There will be a variety of bars and artisan food traders on site. Car parking tickets can be purchased in advance via the online ticketing process.