Emerging as a raw, high-energy alternative to neatly packaged and polished acts, The Scratch have consistently thrown predictability to the wind – embracing absurdity and anarchy in equal measure as they garner legions of devotees off the back of their famously raucous live shows. The Dublin-based four-piece continue to blur the boundaries between folk and metal in their own wildly unique way on their debut album Couldn't Give A Rats – released earlier this year.

* * * * *

"Working in a kitchen a couple years back, my friend and sous chef Johnny used to play Astral Weeks during prep in the morning. It just clicked with me one day and it’s still my favourite album of his. The vocal melodies and production are beautiful."

Read more in the upcoming Van Morrison Special Issue of Hot Press, and watch The Scratch's performance below:

The Scratch are setting off on a charity cycle from Dublin to Ballyshannon in Donegal this Thursday – to raise money for MASI, and specifically help the children in Direct Provision access adequate equipment to go to school and enjoy a normal childhood. You can donate to their fundraiser here.

Take a look at the spectacular line-up for the next two weeks of 'Rave On, Van Morrison' below:

Wed Aug 12 Bronagh Gallagher And The Healing Has Begun (7pm)
Thu Aug 13 Imelda May Wild Night (7pm)
Fri Aug 14 Maverick Sabre Beautiful Vision (7pm)
Sat Aug 15 Una Healy Reminds Me of You (7pm)
Sun Aug 16 JC Stewart Bright Side of the Road (7pm)

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)

Each 'Rave On, Van Morrison' performance premieres every night on the Hot Press YouTube channel. To make sure you don't miss out on any of our upcoming videos, subscribe to our YouTube here!

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.