Being in the music industry for 40 years has left multi-talented Joe Creighton with a well-respected name.
Joe is not only a formidable bass player, he is also a successful and acclaimed singer/ song-writer who has performed with a long list of musicians including Ray Charles and Kylie Minogue.
Throughout his life, Joe has always been inspired by Sir Van Morrison’s music and has created a show where he performs Morrison’s classics as well as the lesser known songs. Joe will bring his love and natural gravitation towards Van Morrison’s music to life once again this October with his live interpretation show ‘Into The Mystic’ at the Redland Performing Arts Centre.
The idea to create a show exploring Morrison’s music is one that was quite natural for Joe. “Even as a teenager living in Belfast, I gravitated towards his music and I began to follow his career. I started to play some of his songs, even recorded a few just for fun,” he says.“Morrison was an influence and creative inspiration for me. We were from the same environment and the same time. Over the years I found that my voice sounds a bit like his; his music suits me. A few years ago I performed some of his songs with a band, but not in the typical tribute style. I wanted to bring my own interpretation and feeling to it.
“I wondered if people would want to hear it so I tried it in a club. The response was overwhelming. I was inspired to grow the show, and since then every show I have put on has sold out.”
Joe is not the first person to do a Van Morrison show, although his has been one of the most successful. He puts the success of the show down to one factor. “Well, I’m Irish like Morrison, so I have the same heart of Ireland,” he says. “I have a similar sound although I don’t try to sound like him. There are parallels between our voices and that helps to give people that Morrison feeling.”
This show has led to many highlights for Joe, but there is one moment that really stands out. “This moment still happens, but the first time the guitarist struck a chord for the song ‘Gloria’ the audience rose as it was played and there was just such an overwhelming surge of emotional energy when they all yelled out 'Gloria' along with the song. It was amazing and surprising as that song was played to death in my teenage years; it was like the national anthem of Ireland, but it’s still powerful which is incredible.”
Although Joe is an acclaimed musician who has been performing for years and with some of the greats, he still faces nerves. “Look, I do feel the expectation sometimes. Nerves can really expose you. It always quite frightening at the beginning of a show but after one or two songs something magical happens and it’s very exciting.”
Joe has a clear vision for his future plans. “Along with playing the show I have another album that will be released that’s bubbling along nicely and I’m writing as well,” he says “At the moment I’m focused on the show, which I will keep playing as long as people like it. I would love to take the show interstate, which would take some organising but I’d love to do it.”
Joe Creighton plays Into The Mystic – The Music Of Van Morrison at the Redland Performing Arts Centre 1 October.
