Van Morrison, York Barbican, February 10 (From York Press)

Van Morrison, York Barbican, February 10

10:29am Friday 10th February 2012 in Music news and reviews By Charles Hutchinson

Van Morrison plays York Barbican on Sunday.

Van Morrison fact file

Full name: George Ivan Morrison.

Known as: Van The Man.

Where, when and why in York: York Barbican, Sunday at 7.45pm, for the first time since 2006.

Occupation: Rumbling, grumbling Celtic soul brother.

Born: August 31, 1945, working-class east Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Age: 66.

Father: Shipyard worker, who collected American blues and jazz records.

Music education: Van grew up listening to Muddy Waters, Mahalia Jackson, Lightnin’ Hopkins and John Lee Hooker.

The past: Played guitar, sax and harmonica with Irish showbands, skiffle and rock’n’roll groups, touring Germany in 1961 with The Monarchs. Led Belfast R&B band Them from 1964; quit in 1966 to go solo, recording legendary Astral Weeks in New York in 1968. Prolific flow of albums ever since, leading to BRIT Award in 1994 for Outstanding Contribution To British Music and Hollywood Walk Of Fame honour in 2010.

The recent past: Released 33rd studio album, Keep It Simple, in April 2008, featuring Don’t Go To Nightclubs Any More – but he keeps making a beeline for the Barbican. Only one album since then, 2009’s Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl, although large chinks of his back catalogue have been re-issued.

The future: No clues on his website, except for plug for The Stuart Suite Sessions, two £200 dinner and shows with an intimate Van at Culloden Estate and Spa, Hollywood, County Down, on April 15 and 16.

Did you know? Three of his songs, Brown Eyed Girl, Madame George and Moondance, were named in The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll.

Barbican tickets update: Still available at £45 to, gulp, £75 on 0844 854 2757 or online at yorkbarbican.co.uk