Bob Dylan brought his Belfast concert to a close in a wildly unexpected way: by covering Van Morrison's obscure track "Going Down to Bangor." This choice likely left few fans familiar with the song in the crowd of hardcore Van Morrison enthusiasts. The fact that it wasn't a hit from one of Morrison's iconic albums, nor released in recent memory, suggests Dylan was looking to take a risk.
However, this isn't his first foray into Van Morrison's discography; he has covered numerous tracks over the years, including several classics like "Moondance" and "And It Stoned Me." In turn, Morrison has also had a long history of paying tribute to Dylan, having started covering his songs as far back as 1966.
In a recent pattern, Dylan seems to have an affinity for non-obvious choices from iconic songwriters. He performed Bo Diddley's "I Can't Tell" on the Outlaw tour this summer and even tackled Bob Weir's "Only A River" in 2023. This unexpected choice may have been in line with his preference for lesser-known gems.
With Dylan finishing up his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, fans are eagerly awaiting his 2026 plans. He has hinted that more shows are on the horizon via a recent post, which promises an early Spring 2026 announcement.
However, this isn't his first foray into Van Morrison's discography; he has covered numerous tracks over the years, including several classics like "Moondance" and "And It Stoned Me." In turn, Morrison has also had a long history of paying tribute to Dylan, having started covering his songs as far back as 1966.
In a recent pattern, Dylan seems to have an affinity for non-obvious choices from iconic songwriters. He performed Bo Diddley's "I Can't Tell" on the Outlaw tour this summer and even tackled Bob Weir's "Only A River" in 2023. This unexpected choice may have been in line with his preference for lesser-known gems.
With Dylan finishing up his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, fans are eagerly awaiting his 2026 plans. He has hinted that more shows are on the horizon via a recent post, which promises an early Spring 2026 announcement.
... Dylan's always been known for his eclectic taste in covers, but going down to Bangor? it feels like he wants to make us appreciate the song more instead of just playing it for the Van Morrison fans in attendance 
I kinda get why he'd want to pay tribute, but at the same time, I'm not sure how this will age with his live shows... still love him though! 
! I'm all for him taking risks and exploring lesser-known gems, it's actually really cool to see him pay homage to other artists in such a unique way 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that he's been covering Morrison's tracks for ages? It's like they're having their own secret songwriters' club 
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. But what I'd love to know is how did the crowd react? Were they all completely lost or did they appreciate the nod to Van Morrison's lesser-known tracks? 
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And now that he's wrapping up his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, I'll be keeping an eye out for those Spring 2026 announcement - fingers crossed for more surprises!
i mean i love van morrison as much as the next person, but that song is super obscure lol. still tho, it was so cool to see dylan take a risk like that... i think he's really good at finding those hidden gems from iconic artists and putting his own spin on them 
anyway, i'm so hyped for his 2026 tour announcement 
fingers crossed it'll be another wild ride
. can't wait to see what he's got in store for us next year 
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. i love how these unexpected choices showcase his eclecticism and creativity. can't wait to see what he has in store for us in 2026 
. But in all seriousness, it shows that he's still experimenting with new sounds and exploring lesser-known gems from iconic songwriters.
. And now, it seems like Morrison has returned the favor by covering some of Dylan's tracks. It's a beautiful thing when artists pay homage to each other in this way 
. Anyway, I'm hyped for what's next – I'll be tuning in early Spring 2026 to see what he's got in store 
. And it's cool that the two artists have such a long history of collaborating and influencing each other, it's like they're having this musical conversation across generations 
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. It's like he's trying to shake things up and keep it fresh for both himself and the audience. I mean, who needs to play the same old classics when you can throw in some deep cuts from other artists? His affinity for obscure tracks is actually pretty refreshing. And I love how Van Morrison feels comfortable with this kind of exchange – it's a great example of two musical legends pushing boundaries together 
. Will he keep the momentum going or take a step back? Either way, I'll be there to find out! It's not just about the music; it's about experiencing his energy live. Bring on that Spring 2026 announcement – I'll be counting down the days 
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. I mean, it's cool and all that jazz, but what about his fanbase who just wanna hear hits from the past? 
Still, I'm excited for whatever 2026 has in store for him... maybe he'll even cover some Chris Cornell tracks? 
. They've been trading songs for decades, like two old friends swapping secrets 
. And now, with Dylan finishing up his tour, I'm hyped to see what he has in store for us next 
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