Blickling Hall

Blickling Hall

Blickling Hall is a long way from the sweaty clubs Van Morrison has declared to be his preferred choice of venue.

But if anyone can sing the blues amid the splendour of an English stately home it is Van the Man.

Equal parts visionary, craftsman and curmudgeon, his intrepid forays into folk, jazz, blues and soul long ago assured him a hallowed place in the rock 'n' roll cosmos.

Wandering on stage with his sax to blow the familiar opening bars of Did Ya Get Heeled, it was soon apparent that he remains a performer of true quality.

Supremely controlled, that uniquely yearning voice has always been Morrison's trump card and was particularly emotive on songs drawn from recent album Pay The Devil.

With a back catalogue only rivalled by Dylan in terms of sheer range, Morrison's set was a treasure house for long time fans. Recent favourites such as Back On Time and Precious Time slotted nicely beside classics including Moondance and Bright Side Of The Road.

Morrison can still deliver a live show to match the blues and jazz heroes of his youth.

And like them he looks set to boogey to the grave.