As this year marks the 40th birthday of the Harrogate International Festival, it is only right that events are conducted in a party atmosphere.

It is fair to say that Van Morrison is not known as a rambunctious party dude.

Universally acknowledged as the craggiest of curmudgeons, Van's position at the rock and roll Grumpy Table alongside Lou Reed and Bob Dylan is firmly established.

So why do we forgive him? It's simple. Try wallowing in the ephemeral folk-jazz sumptuousness of Astral Weeks, or stomping around to the rabid gutter trash R'n'B of Them's debut album. Van is a man almost without peer. He has produced highly complex, critically untouchable LPs. He has written sparkling pop songs. Nobody else does what Van does. His performances are an education in the music which forms the Morrison melting pot; Chicago blues, ancient Celtic folk song, Stax soul and cool jazz.

This was adult music, entirely free of clichs or cheap thrills. The crowd knowingly applauded saxophone and double bass solos with jazz reverence, and the hits - Moondance et al - were greeted like old friends.

The Morrison band cooked throughout, though for my dollar they could have played a whole lot more gritty Chess Records R'n'B (Van blows a mean harmonica) and a little less light jazz. I must end by saying that, contrary to reputation, Van actually appeared to be enjoying himself. I guess everyone cheers up at a birthday party.

Updated: 09:06 Monday, August 01, 2005