Van Morrison announces a date at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 9 at Noon.

One of music’s true originals Van Morrison’s unique and inspirational musical legacy is rooted in postwar Belfast. Feeding off musical greats such as Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Mahalia Jackson and Leadbelly he was a travelling musician at 13 and singing, playing guitar and sax, in several bands, before forming Them in 1964. Making their name at Belfast’s Maritime Club Them soon established Van as a major force in the British R&B scene. Morrison’s matchless vocal and songwriting talents produced instant classics such as the much covered “Gloria” and “Here Comes The Night.” Those talents found full astonishing range in Van’s solo career.

After working with Them’s New York producer Bert Berns on beautiful Top 40 pop hit “Brown Eyed Girl” (1967), Morrison moved to another realm. Recorded over 3 days with legendary jazz musicians Astral Weeks (1968) is a still singular album combining street poetry, jazz improvisation, Celtic invocation and Afro Celtic Blues wailing. Morrison would weave these and myriad other influences into the albums that followed in quick succession. Reflecting on new life in America on the joyous Sinatra soul of Moondance (1970) and the country inflected Tupelo Honey (1971) he summoned old spiritual and ancestral life in the epic St Dominic’s Preview (1972) closer track “Listen To The Lion.” Double live album Too Late To Stop Now (1973) highlighted Morrison’s superlative performing and bandleader skills. Mapping out a richly varied musical course throughout the 70s he shone among an all-star cast including Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters on “The Band’s Last Waltz.” Indeed, borne of his Irish Showband instincts, the magic of the live performance has been a consistent feature of Morrison’s career. 

Presented by Goldenvoice.