Love Supreme returned on Sunday with an equally impressive schedule of big names, among them Candi Staton, Lisa Stansfield and Van Morrison.

But it was acclaimed crooner and pianist Joe Stilgoe who eased in the day with his traditional but original show tunes.

Later on Stansfield pleased everyone in earshot with jubilant renditions of People Hold On and All Around The World. Alongside other soul icons on bill such as Staton and Chaka Khan, there was a neat continuum of strong women who are clearly jazz-inspired – but whose anthems have become hugely influential in modern dance music.

The 74-year-old South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela showed no sign of slowing down after 50 years performing. He punctuating his band’s highlife rhythms and a capella choruses with his own startling shrieks and wails, such as the choo-chooing in Coal Train, which narrates the injustices of migrant Africans toiling in the mines.

There was plenty of nervousness about Van Morrison’s headline slot given his notorious prickly reputation.

But while he didn’t exactly turn on the charm, he brought an easy, understated Sunday night set of swing and rhythm and blues. Voice perfectly intact, he obliged the privileged crowd with wonderful renditions of Moondance and Brown Eyed Girl.

And if Van was a little too gentle, there was always Ibibio Sound Machine, a London via Nigerian outfit whose frenetic Afropop was psych soaked and dazzling.

Five stars