Win a platform to see Van Morrison

Blues legend Van Morrison will play Virgin Money Unity Arena on Thursday – and you and your friends could be there for free.

We have a platform, which holds up to five people from the same group, to give away for the socially-distanced outdoor arena at Gosforth Park, Newcastle.

Van is one in a programme of live music acts to play the arena, which has so far hosted the likes of Sam Fender, Tom Grennan and DJ Patrick Topping.

Born in 1945, Van heard his father’s collection of blues, country and gospel early in life. Feeding off musical greats such as Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Mah ali a Jackson and Lead belly he was a travelling musician at 13 and singing, playing guitar and sax, in several bands, before forming Them in 1964.

Making their name at Belfast’s Maritime Club, Them soon established Van as a major force in the British R&B scene. Morrison’s vocal and songwriting talents produced instant classics such as the much-covered Gloria and Here Comes The Night.

Those talents found full range in Van’s solo career. After working with Them’s New York producer Bert Berns on Top 40 pop hit Brown Eyed Girl (1967), Morrison moved to another realm with one of the albums of the century, Astral Weeks, released in 1968.

To be in with a chance of winning the platform, answer this question: Where in Newcastle is the Virgin Money Unity Arena?

Email your name and answer to Katy.Wheeler@jpimedia.co.uk by 9am tomorrow. The winner will be notified via email.

Usual JPI Media competition rules apply.