Music legend Van Morrison has kicked off Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival with an hour-and-a-half long performance

The Northern Irish singer is a music industry titan with a career spanning seven decades, buoyed by hit songs including one of the defining songs of the 1960s, Brown Eyed Girl, and ‘70s release Moondance.

The 78-year-old took to the mainstage at 9:30pm tonight (May 16) for the inaugural headline set of Tom Kerridge’s food and music festival Pub in the Park in Marlow.

Following a high-energy opening performance by The Christians, Morrison brought his signature style to proceedings, clothed as always in his trademark sunglasses and Panama hat.

A number of tracks were played from his new album of rock'n'roll covers, Accentuate the Positive, to popular reception, though they came at the expense of audience favourites including Brown Eyed Girl, which didn't even make an encore-style appearance at the end of the set.

READ MORE: Locals campaign to save TWO pubs in Bucks village after sudden closure

The annual food and music festival, which will head to St Albans, Chiswick and Reigate over the coming months after setting a high bar in its hometown of Marlow, reliably draws crowds of up to 7,000 to Higginson Park each day of its long-weekend run.

Its star-studded weekend line-up for 2024 includes early-2000s boyband Busted, who will take to the stage alongside Example and DJ Gok Wan on Friday night, and Mae Muller, Paloma Faith and Scouting for Girls, all set to perform on Saturday and Sunday.

Living up to the reputation of event ‘curator’ and Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, a number of big-name cooks and food influences will also stop by for talks and demonstrations over the weekend, with Mary Berry setting the stage tonight for fellow culinary enthusiasts Jose Pizarro and Jack Blumenthal, among others, this weekend.

Limited tickets are still available to buy for Marlow’s Pub in the Park 2024 at this link. Don’t miss out!