WEDNESDAY 10'th of AUGUST 2016:
KEEP IT SIMPLE, KEEP IT WARM
View from the castle hill - northView to the east (Photo: Kkc)
The castle is long gone. Once throning majestically on the hill just opposite the stage.
Overlooking the fjord and approaching enemies.
Steep downhill, making it difficult to attack.
But he was overthrown in the end, just like the other countless kings fighting for power.
He had one of the longest reigns, though. From 1184 till the day he died in 1202.
51 years old.
In Bergen.
So don't go to Bergen.
Van the Man has entered king Sverre's grounds. He is here to rule for a while.
In the cold rain.
Even for us natives it is harsh and sudden after some very much needed summer days.
But only happy, silly smiles for The Man whereever I turn my head!
He is well clothed. Scarf, long warm jacket.
Hat, sunglasses.
Probably wool underwear too.
I have.
I am not stupid.'
I am not willing to freeze through a 90 minute concert.
Not even for a living legend. I have my own thorned legacy to care for.
Neither is he so stupid. Not even for this warm, devoted, almost 8000 crowd of followers.
He is just keeping his voice warm for them.
Carefully he sets out with his brilliant band in Moondance.
Trumpeter and musical director Paul Moran, guitarist Dave Keary, bassist Paul Moore,
drummer Mez Clough, and singer Dana Masters.
THE GIRL FROM BELFAST
I am sitting with my sidekick, the Belfast photographer Tara in the slope.
A good bit away from the stage. On pieces of a cut-up yoga mat I once bought by mistake.
Now Yoga-ing our asses from the cold, wet ground.
Miraculously she came to Trondheim just in time for the concert.
Morrison being one of here favorites, though she is only 27.
Strange.
But for me very convenient, as I can't recognize many of his songs.
I want to do a professional review and put a set list together.
It goes so and so with that.
I had big plans for her to take some good pictures of him at the front of the stage.
But a ban was set and no professional photographers were allowed.
A pity for us, but understandable.
Who wants those boys with the big nano cameras poking around in your face?
A good plan is a plan that can be altered.
There are other pictures to be taken in this warm. welcoming Van The Man atmosphere.
Glad I got in. Getting a press accreditation here is like asking to be a member of a secret tribe.
Here? In the middle of nowhere?
They should be happy I even bothered.
I've been moving this dangerous pen since the 70's, had this paper/editor column since 1996, so I
guess I have become a huge threat to them, with all my 30 - 50 000 jihad readers around the world.
And my photographer from Belfast, what kind of terrorist is she..?
Earlier today they let us in to the Nidarosdomen Cathedral
to take pictures, what about that!
THIS HOME TOWN OF MINE
Earlier today they let us in to the Nidarosdomen Cathedral
to take pictures, imagine that!
The fact is that I try to love this hometown of mine and I admire each brave person that tries to develop something good here in this political redneck merchant town.
Since 2008 I have been hosting hundreds of strangers coming to this town, trough the CS network.
Everybody loves Trondheim.
A little picturesque town in polarbearland.
And their liking changes my own trauma towards a state of proud.
The rain wants to pour down like a Belfest January night.
But it's only drizzling. And nobody here is scared of rain anyway.
Maybe just me.
I avoid festivals if I am not writing about it or being invited to read my poetry from the stage.
(Dream on, loser...)
For me Van Morrison is a big anti hero in the grim music business.
He is an everyday poet who can write like no one else about love and longing, life and death.
And aren't those the most important topics of them all..?
Few move the words like him, form songs, covered by countless artists trough the years.
He has been here forever in my life.
On his pillar of shy fame, making a stand.
I always trusted him. He never needed me to sit and listen to his music all the time.
I always knew what he could do with words.
That is enough for me.
VAN DON'T BUDGE
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