Van Morrison’s 80th Hits a High Note with Hometown Tribute and Museum Buzz

Step into the songs of Van Morrison with a visit to the Belfast streets that shaped his character and inspired his multi-award-winning music. 

Blues-rock legend Van Morrison turns 80 this August and will mark the occasion with a birthday gig in the city where he was born, grew up and now lives. The Belfast boy, raised in a working-class district of East Belfast in the shadow of the famous shipyard where the Titanic was built, went on to become one of the world’s most successful singer-songwriters with his distinctive blending of multiple music genres.

Fans of Van the Man will know that many of his songs reference places in Belfast, such as Cyprus Avenue and Hyndford Street, that played an important part in his childhood. His lyrics evoke moods and memories of this complex city to which Morrison is still deeply connected.

Now, there’s even more reason for fans to visit Belfast. Exciting plans are in motion to turn Van Morrison’s childhood home into a dedicated visitor center. Plans are reportedly underway, and while full details haven’t yet been confirmed, fans have been told to “watch this space” for news of a long-anticipated Van Morrison museum in the city he so often sang about.

The Van Morrison Trail is a chance to step into the Belfast portrayed in some of Morrison’s most iconic songs. Beginning at Elmgrove Primary School, where Morrison went to school and which features in the video for his song The Healing Game, the 3.5km trail journeys through the city streets of his youth.

Visit The Hollow, immortalized in his most famous hit, Brown Eyed Girl, Hyndford Street, Orangefield Park, and of course leafy Cyprus Avenue, which to the young Morrison seemed like a world away from his small terrace home. QR codes on the trail map deliver a full sight and sound experience enabling fans to listen to 12 song extracts linked to the locations. Street art along the way captures the area’s enduring connection to the artist. 

Having finished the trail, why not enjoy a meal at Cyprus Avenue restaurant or seek out a bakery to get a taste of some of the local specialties mentioned in Morrison’s songs, such as barmbrack (bread with sultanas and raisins), a coconut covered snowball or a sugary Paris bun.

Although Van Morrison rarely tours these days, he still performs live in Belfast from time to time and this year will appear in five shows.  Fans hoping to catch him in concert should plan a trip to the city, but even if you are not lucky enough to get tickets for a Van Morrison show, there is plenty of music to be enjoyed in this UNESCO City of Music. 

Experience original heavy rock at Voodoo, tributes, trad and club nights at The Empire Music Hall and The Limelight and concerts by international stars at the Ulster Hall and The Waterfront. Or drop into one of the many Belfast pubs that host free afternoon or evening trad or folk music sessions.

For a deeper dive into Belfast’s musical heritage sign up for the Belfast Music Walking Tour led by a local music expert. The two-and-a-half-hour tour visits places in the city that are important to its musical history and culture and shares stories about musicians who performed there.

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