VAN MORRISON – MOONDANCE. THURSDAY 26th JANUARY – 7.30pm

The yang to Astral Weeks’ yin, the brilliant Moondance is every bit as much a classic as its predecessor; Van Morrison’s first commercially successful solo effort, it retains the previous album’s deeply spiritual thrust but transcends its bleak, cathartic intensity to instead explore themes of renewal and redemption. Light, soulful, and jazzy, Moondance opens with the sweetly nostalgic “And It Stoned Me,” the song’s pastoral imagery establishing the dominant lyrical motif recurring throughout the album — virtually every track exults in natural wonder, whether it’s the nocturnal magic celebrated by the title cut or the unlimited promise offered in “Brand New Day.” At the heart of the record is “Caravan,” an incantatory ode to the power of radio; equally stirring is the majestic “Into the Mystic,” a song of such elemental beauty and grace as to stand as arguably the quintessential Morrison moment. Allmusic

WITH SPECIAL GUEST PETER MILLS

Peter Mills Is the Senior Lecturer in Media & Popular Culture at Leeds Beckett University. his acclaimed book, Hymns To The Silence, looks into the work of Van Morrison in a detailed & fascinating investigative study.

He was singer and lyricist for the band Innocents Abroad who made two albums, Quaker City and Eleven. He has taught music, literature and philosophy at universities in the UK , Hungary, Romania and Croatia. He has published work on, amongst others, The Monkees, Samuel Beckett, Olaf Stapledon, Hungarian folk music, Pink Floyd, national anthems and The KLF.

No use of mobile phones permitted during this event. 

Ticket price includes £1 booking fee per ticket. (Please note that no refunds or credits are available for this event).