(EMI) By popular demand, multi-award winning musical legend Van Morrison returns to California for "Astral Weeks Live" at the Berkeley's University of California, Greek Theatre on May 2nd and 3rd and at the intimate Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on May 7, 8 & 9. www.vanmorrison.com following a May 6th Tonight Show appearance.Morrison recently released "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl" on Listen to the Lion/EMI, a historic CD and double vinyl recording, performed almost 40 years to the date of the original studio masterpiece. The DVD release of "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl" is slated for May 19th release, exclusively through Amazon.com
Morrison will perform the "Astral Weeks" material "from cover to cover" as well as a number of his classic hits from his extensive repertoire. Joining him on stage will be an orchestral string section and a band composed of world-class musicians, including renowned guitarist Jay Berliner who played with Van on the original "Astral Weeks" sessions 40 years ago. Tracks will include: "Astral Weeks/I Believe I've Transcended," "Beside You," "Slim Slow Slider/ I Start Breaking Down," "Sweet Thing," "The Way Young Lovers Do," "Cyprus Avenue / You Came Walking Down," "Ballerina," "Madame George."
"These concerts give me a welcome opportunity to perform these songs the way I originally intended them to be," says Mr. Morrison. "These songs are timeless and as fresh today as the day they were written, actually even more so." And they follow two sold out nights of critically acclaimed shows at London's Royal Albert Hall.