Chatty Van sends 'em home smiling from the Marquee

There's always a tinge of nervousness in the crowd in the build-up to a Van Morrison concert. Which version of the notoriously grumpy Ulsterman will take to the stage? The showman or the grouch who performs with his back to the audience.

The crowd assembled at the Marquee in Cork last night quickly realised they had struck gold.

Van took to the stage at 8.15 and laid down a marker in the early numbers to prove he was there to put on a show.

"This is show business, it's called theatre," Van told the audience three songs in, as the lights and the drummer punctuated his hand gestures. From Morrison, that's practically banter.

It was hard to believe it was a 69-year-old man delivering the pared-back and polished 100 minute set that spanned five decades of music.

Van performed with a four man band and one backing singer forming a tight semi-circle around him on stage. He contributed himself to the instruments as well as the vocals - playing sax, harmonica and guitar during the night.

The set list was a clear crowd pleaser; 'Carrying A Torch' gave way to a mellow version of 'Days Like This', highlighting brilliant vocals from both the man himself and the backing singer.

'Enlightenment' followed, and then 'Moondance' segued into 'I Believe To My Soul', with the full house hugely appreciative of the well-known tracks.

It was a tight performance, with barely a beat between tracks. When the opening chords of 'Brown-eyed Girl' drew cheers and whoops it was hard to believe we were already an hour into the show.

Van famously doesn't appreciate sing-alongs, but his most famous hit followed by 'Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in heaven when you smile)' had the crowd ready to take to their feet.

Maureen and Barry Tierney at Van Morrison last night.

They got their chance at the finish. Van left the stage after 'The Healing has Begun' and came back to end with a performance of 'Gloria' that came from 1965.

Kinsale musician Barry Tierney, a lifelong Van fan who has seen him perform many times, said it best after the gig.

"That was something a bit special."