Kicking off a new week on 'Rave On, Van Morrison', we're delighted to present our first night of special back-to-back Van covers – with Duke Special performing 'Orangefield', followed by Junior Brother performing 'Dweller on the Threshold'.

Over the course of the YouTube event, celebrating Van Morrison's 75th birthday, you can expect even more renditions of his remarkable songs from some of the most iconic names in the country – including President Michael D. Higgins with Bill Whelan, Hozier, Sinéad O'Connor, Bob Geldof, Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey, to name just a few.

Belfast-based songwriter and performer Duke Special has forged a reputation for his refusal to be boxed into any easy categorisation – embarking on a series of diverse musical adventures throughout his remarkable career. He released his latest album, Hallow, in 2017.

Since being chosen as one of RTÉ's Rising Irish Stars of 2018, Kerry native Junior Brother has built up an impressive live profile, touring with The Proclaimers, Lankum, Glen Hansard and The Murder Capital. His debut album, Pull The Right Rope, was released last year to critical acclaim – earning a Choice Music Prize nomination for Album of the Year, as well as two nominations at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

Duke Special's performance of 'Orangefield' (7pm Irish Standard Time) and Junior Brother's performance of 'Dweller On The Threshold' (8pm) premiere tonight, August 17, on the Hot Press YouTube channel. 

Take a look at the spectacular line-up for this week on 'Rave On, Van Morrison' below:

Mon Aug 17 Duke Special Orangefield (7pm); Junior Brother Dweller on the Threshold (8pm)
Tue Aug 18 Damien Dempsey Tupelo Honey (7pm); Carrie Baxter Out In The Cold Again (8pm)
Wed Aug 19 Camille O'Sullivan Avalon Of The Heart (7pm); Joshua Burnside You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push The River (8pm)
Thu Aug 20 Gemma Hayes Comfort You (7pm); Little Hours Streets Of Arklow (8pm)
Fri Aug 21 Gemma Bradley Sometimes We Cry (7pm); Jess Kav Vanlose Stairway (8pm)
Sat Aug 22 Mick Flannery Linden Arden Stole the Highlights (7pm); The Henry Girls These Are The Days (8pm)
Sun Aug 23 Martin Hayes Moondance (7pm); Cara Dillon Memory Lane (8pm)

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Hot Press is also publishing a Van Morrison Special Issue, to coincide with ‘Rave On, Van Morrison’, featuring written contributions from the legendary likes of Sinéad O'Connor, Gary Lightbody, Tim Wheeler, Una Healy and David Keenan – who reflect on Van's music and influence. The issue will also look back at five decades of landmark Hot Press interviews with Van, in which he discusses everything from Ray Charles and his other musical heroes, to the inspiration behind the seminal Astral Weeks. Plus, you can expect exclusive photos from the archives, ten ways Van has changed the world, and much more. This historic publication is set to be a must-have for Van Morrison fans all over the world, and is available to pre-order now.