Rock legend Van Morrison is to play two concerts in Liverpool to launch this year’s Cains Liverpool Irish Festival.
The Irish star will play two gigs at the Philharmonic Hall as part of a massive weekend of activity in October to kick-start the event.
News of the concerts came as city brewer Cains announced it is to sponsor the festival for a second year running.
The festival begins on October 20 and runs until November 12. More than 50 events will take place at venues across the city, spanning folk and rock music, theatre, poetry, lectures, films and nightclubs.
Other events being lined up for the opening week of the festival include performances by bands The Dubliners and Hothouse Flowers, a one-man show by actor Donal O’Kelly and a performance by fiddler and flautist Frankie Gavin with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Strings.
Tickets for the Van Morrison concerts, on October 20 and 21, go on sale on Friday August 11.
For further information about tickets for other events, telephone the Philharmonic Hall box office on 0151 709 3789.