IRISH singer Van Morrison has been announced as one of the headline musical acts at this year’s Hay Festival.

The Brown Eyed Girl star will play the festival’s closing night on Sunday, May 31 with organisers promising a "unique opportunity to hear and meet the legendary Irish singer-songwriter".

Other musical acts announced for this year’s festival at Hay-on-Wye, that opens on Thursday, May 21, are Dutch pop jazz singer Caro Emerald, who will appear at the festival on Bank Holiday Monday, May 25, while former boy soprano Aled Jones is teaming up with opera star Rusell Watson for the festival’s opening concert.

African stars Amadou and Mariam will also appear at Hay along with the harmony group Blind Boys of Alabama.

Hay Festival has also announced favourites Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig will be appearing at the festival while writer Afua Hirsh will give the Christopher Hitchens Lecture on Sunday, May 24 examining the future of journalism.