eastbelfast.com has learned that Van Morrison is to appear at the first ever East Belfast Arts Festival on September 8. Rumours have been rife for some weeks but we understand that contracts have already been signed, although no announcement has yet been made. No-one from the festival was available for comment.
This will be Van Morrison's first appearance in east Belfast, where of course he was born, since his early days with R&B group Them. We understand the venue has already been booked at Aircraft Park, a venue steeped in the industrial history of east Belfast with its association with aircraft makers Short Brothers.
It is unclear who else is appearing on the bill but sources indicate there will be a full lineup of artists for what is expected to be a sell-out festival programme.
Van Morrison is regarded as one of the most important international songwriter/musician/singers of his generation and recently sold out both the Odyssey in Belfast and O2 in Dublin
