You don’t have to be in your 60s or a brown-eyed female to enjoy the powerful vocals of Van “the Man” Morrison.

The Melting Point will be consumed by folk, rock and some good old blue-eyed soul Saturday night.

The performers? Greg Hester and the Van Morrison Tribute Band.

Hester’s not Van but judging by his nearly identical, awe-inspiring voice, he’s certainly close to the real deal.

Originally from Augusta, Hester has been in the music business for 22 years.

“I fell in love with Van’s music after listening to the MoonDance album when I was 16,” Hester said. “I’ve been performing ever since.”

This singe/songwriter is known for putting on spectacular solo performances where he plays not only his personal musical creations, but also covers of songs by artists like Johnny Cash, James Brown and, of course, the legendary Van Morrison.

“I don’t really like covering songs that much, but there are some that are just too good not to be covered,” Hester said. “I respect Van immensely as a writer and a musician, so I really enjoy playing the tribute shows.”

Hester has been spotted at various Atlanta festivals, such as The Dogwood Festival and Music Midtown in 2001.

Over the years, he has lent his talents to several Atlanta bands, including Swift Monkey, The Suicide Kings and Unknown 228. His musical genius has also landed him a number of incredible openers and helped him befriend the soul king himself, James Brown.

In 2003, Hester was included in the Peter Tosh Tribute Album. This album features phenomenal world famous artists such as Jerry Garcia, Eric Clapton and Daddy Roots.

Saturday is expected to be a monumental Van Morrison Tribute show – it will be the first time Hester plays “Brown Eyed Girl” live.

“I know it’s odd that I have yet to play this hit at a show, but Van Morrison himself got to the point where he hated to play that song. He was more into his modern stuff, which is what I like to focus in on during these gigs,” Hester said.

“The Melting Point is definitely an A-list place so I’m definitely excited. The food is awesome, the sound is incredible, and the overall vibe is just amazing,” Hester said.

Hester’s music can be downloaded at iTunes, and his latest album, “Souldust,” can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com. Music also can be found on his Web site, www.greghester.com, and www.myspace.com/greghester.