Van Morrison

London’s newest mid-sized venue, the 3,800-capacity British Airways ARC at Olympia, proved its mettle on Tuesday night as Van Morrison closed out the final night of the venue's very first artist residency. The room boasts remarkably crisp, well-balanced acoustics, offering an ideal setting for an artist whose trade relies on absolute sonic precision. A piano sat near the front edge of the stage, partially obscuring the sightline to the Belfast bard from certain angles, but any minor visual obstruction was swiftly forgotten once the music got underway.

Morrison arrived in stellar form for the residency finale. Now 81, his vocal delivery remains an absolute force—rich, full-throated, and remarkably agile. To put his relentless work ethic into perspective, he is currently touring behind his 48th studio album, a recording milestone that stands virtually unmatched in modern popular music, to say nothing of his expansive catalogue of live releases.

Supported by a magnificent 11-piece band, Morrison treated the ensemble with noticeable respect, formally introducing the musicians to the audience twice over the course of the evening. The performance moved at a cracking pace, steering clear of prolonged stage banter in favour of tight, disciplined arrangements.

The setlist drew heavily from classic blues, jazz, and soul standards, peppered with gems from his own vast back catalogue. The evening opened with a soaring rendition of Into the Mystic from his classic 1970 album Moondance, setting a high bar early on. The band then dove straight into a run of covers, including Junior Wells’ Snatch It Back and Hold It, his band mate John Allair’s Go to the High Place in Your Mind, Marie Adams’ I'm Gonna Play the Honky Tonks, and Dave Lewis’ Madame Butterfly Blues, all from his latest album Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge.

Morrison’s own material seamlessly slotted alongside these heritage tracks. I've Been Working and Northern Muse (Solid Ground) showcased the ensemble's tight rhythm section, while Little Village added a gritty, blues-infused texture. A spirited cover of Louis Jordan’s Early in the Mornin' and the traditional folk arrangement Green Rocky Road led into late-period Morrison originals Ain't Gonna Moan No More and Back to Writing Love Songs.

The crowd was treated to a sublime delivery of Moondance, followed immediately by Lester Young’s swing standard Jumping With Symphony Sid. The latter half of the performance hit a triumphant stride with Enlightenment and Real Real Gone, before culminating in a roaring, energetic version of his signature Them classic, Gloria, which brought the evening and the landmark residency to a fiery close.

It was an exceptional display from a performer who continues to operate at the peak of his vocal abilities, backed by one of the finest bands currently on the road.

Setlist
Into the Mystic
Snatch It Back and Hold It (Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band cover)
Go to the High Place in Your Mind (John Allair cover)
I'm Gonna Play the Honky Tonks (Marie Adams cover)
Madame Butterfly Blues (Dave Lewis cover)
I've Been Working
Northern Muse (Solid Ground)
Little Village
Early in the Mornin' (Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five cover)
Green Rocky Road ([traditional] cover)
Ain't Gonna Moan No More
Back to Writing Love Songs
Moondance
Jumping With Symphony Sid (Lester Young and His Sextet cover)
Enlightenment
Real Real Gone
Gloria (Them song)