The Van Morrison Alumni Band have announced they will return for a brand-new UK tour this autumn, following the success of their debut run in 2024. To mark the announcement, the collective has released a stunning reimagining of the classic song ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, featuring vocalist and Olivier-nominated star Natalie Paris.
The tour and single release are timed to honour Sir Van Morrison’s milestone 80th birthday, which takes place on 31st August. Curated by long-time saxophonist Leo Green, the band features musicians who collectively performed thousands of concerts and recorded on hundreds of tracks with the legendary songwriter.
The new version of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ offers fans a chance to connect with a song that Morrison himself has now retired from his own live sets. This new project carries his personal blessing, with Sir Van stating: “These songs are meant to be sung and heard, and I am really happy that Leo is carrying the torch.”
Led by Green, the all-star group includes musicians such as Matt Holland on trumpet and Alec Dankworth on bass. Audiences can expect to hear powerful live renditions of beloved classics from across Van Morrison’s catalogue, including ‘Moondance’, ‘Into the Mystic’ and ‘Days Like This’.
Van Morrison Alumni Band tour dates:
- September 30th – London, Adelphi Theatre
- October 4th – Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre
- October 12th – Chelmsford, Chelmsford Theatre
- October 17th – Fareham, Fareham Live
- October 18th – Basingstoke, Anvil
- October 22nd – Lytham St Annes, Lowther Pavilion
- October 23rd – Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn
- October 24th – Milton Keynes, The Stables
- November 13th – Sunderland, Fire Station
- November 14th – Scarborough, Spa Theatre
- November 15th – Manchester, RNCM Theatre
- November 27th – Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
- November 28th – Swindon, Wyvern
Read the official press release in full below:
Following the overwhelming success of their debut UK tour in 2024 — including a sold-out show at London’s Cadogan Hall — the Van Morrison Alumni Band returns this autumn with a brand-new run of shows, this time honouring the music and legacy of Sir Van Morrison as he celebrates his milestone 80th birthday.
To mark the occasion, the band — curated and led by renowned saxophonist and broadcaster Leo Green — has just released a stunning reimagining of Brown Eyed Girl, featuring acclaimed vocalist and Olivier-nominated star Natalie Paris. Best known for originating the role of Jane Seymour in the global hit musical SIX, Paris brings soulful power and vocal precision to this fresh take on Van Morrison’s most iconic song.
The release arrives ahead of Van’s birthday on 31st August, offering fans a new way to connect with a classic that Van himself has now retired from performing live. Speaking to The Belfast Telegraph, Morrison explained: “Brown Eyed Girl is a teenage song… I stopped performing it.”
Now, for fans longing to hear the song in concert again — along with a treasure trove of rarely-performed gems from Van’s extraordinary catalogue — The Van Morrison Alumni Band offers the ultimate live experience.
Led by Leo Green, who recorded and toured with Van across the globe and contributed to seven of his albums, the band delivers an authentic and emotionally charged celebration of one of the greatest songwriters of our time. This project carries Van Morrison’s personal blessing, with Sir Van stating: “These songs are meant to be sung and heard, and I am really happy that Leo is carrying the torch.”
Reflecting on the project, Leo Green said: “It is such an honour to be able to work with the incredible songs in the Van Morrison catalogue – putting together the setlists for our live shows and playing the songs with these musicians, has been amazing, there are SO many amazing songs – I can’t wait for these concerts. We are forever indebted to Van Morrison for having written some of the most loved songs of all-time and representing the songs in a true and creditable fashion, is a responsibility we relish and take extremely seriously – these songs have provided the soundtracks to millions of people’s lives and hearing them performed live, by The Van Morrison Alumni Band, is an exciting, emotional and utterly joyous experience”.
With Leo’s signature storytelling and behind-the-scenes insight, audiences are taken on a vivid journey through the music, memories and magic of Van Morrison’s legendary career. Expect powerful live renditions of beloved classics from across his 50+ albums — from Moondance, Into the Mystic and Days Like This, to the timeless Have I Told You Lately and Brown Eyed Girl — all performed by the extraordinary musicians who helped bring them to life in the first place.
The Van Morrison Alumni Band is a group of all-star musicians, who have between them accompanied Van Morrison in more than 3000 concerts around the world and have amassed more than 500 recordings credits on the singer’s albums dating back several decades and include:
Leo Green (Sax), Matt Holland (Trumpet), Alec Dankworth (Bass), Robin Aspland (Piano), Geoff Dunn (Drums) and will be joined by: Gary Baldwin (Hammond), Matt White (Guitar), Georgia van Etten (Vocals), Jo Harman (Vocals).
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