Two of the music world’s most visionary artists collaborated together on stage for the very first time last night to bring this year’s Prudential BluesFest to a thrilling end. Headlining The O2 arena to a sold out audience of 14000, Van Morrison and Tom Jones performed their own solo sets before pairing up to duet on rousing versions of Sticks and Stones, Lonesome Road, Goodnight Irene, and others including the Morrison penned I’m Not Feeling It Anymore and Sometime We Cry.
Bluesfest Director Leo Green, who joined Morrison and Jones on stage to play sax, said “Following some brilliant shows from the likes of Jamie Cullum and Tedeschi Trucks, finishing with Van & Tom was the icing on the cake – to hear these two telling stories to the audience and duetting on some of their favourite soul and blues songs was incredible; a real privilege to witness.”
Before the concert, Jones presented Morrison with the Prudential BluesFest Lifelong Achievement Award. Morrison, who has worked with an array of blues and soul greats including John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Junior Wells, Mavis Staples and many more, joins the late Bobby Womack on the list of recipients for this prestigious award.