LEONARD COHEN with special guest Paul Kelly
BIMBADGEN ESTATE, HUNTER VALLEY - SATURDAY JANUARY 31 2009
"He is our Shelley; he is our Lord Byron!" - Bono
"Leonard Cohen was the first artist I discovered by myself. He is the symbol of my musical independence. The sadness of Cohen was inspiring; it gave me a lot of energy. I always remember all this when someone says that my records are morbid or depressing." - Nick Cave
"I tell you who I also think is wonderful is a chap called Leonard Cohen. Do you know him? He's remarkable. I mean, the orchestration is fantastic and the words, the lyrics and everything, he's a remarkable man." - Prince Charles
"Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld/ so I can sigh eternally." - Nirvana, "Pennyroyal Tea"
Roundhouse Entertainment and the Frontier Touring company are honoured to present the legendary Mr Leonard Cohen in his first Australian concert tour in almost a quarter of a century.
The tour will include a series of indoor concerts plus 'a day on the green' winery shows, including Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley on Saturday January 31 2009.
Promoter Michael Gudinski said the Leonard Cohen tour is a must see for any self-respecting music lover.
"The Leonard Cohen concert I saw last month was almost a religious experience. Fans were captivated the moment Leonard walked out onto the stage. His band and backing vocalists are first class, and the man himself can only be described as magical. It's one of the few concerts that I've seen that has kept me in one spot from start to finish - not wanting to miss a moment of what ended up being more than three hours of musical genius."
Roundhouse Entertainment promoter Michael Newton said: "During the eight year history of 'a day on the green' we have presented some amazing artists, yet the excitement level surrounding Leonard Cohen is second to none. This is set to be a very special concert at Bimbadgen Estate."
Leonard Cohen is a true music icon, the writer of such timeless classics as "Hallelujah", "Suzanne", "Bird On A Wire", "Sisters Of Mercy", "First We Take Manhattan", "Everybody Knows", and countless other universally loved songs.
A celebrated poet, author, master song smith and hypnotic performer, Leonard Cohen has received rapturous reviews for his recent shows across the UK, Europe and Canada, his first concert performances anywhere since 1993.
"His first show on British soil in 15 years was immaculate, beautiful, exquisite ... one of the giants of popular song, who had the audience in his grip for the best part of three hours." (THE DAILY TELEGRAPH UK)
"The level of cultural excitement at Cohen's three sold-out shows in Dublin bordered on mass hysteria ... an event of biblical dimensions." (THE IRISH INDEPENDENT)
"The acrid, dystopian humour ... is a reminder that the only people who dub Cohen depressing are those that don't get the jokes." (THE GUARDIAN UK)
"It's a show which, as you might hope, illustrates both the gravity of Cohen's music and the great warmth of his wit. The poet-cum-20th century oracle steered the assembled throng through a sing-along of any of his hits that you could hope for." (THE INDEPENDENT UK)
Leonard Cohen's impact on modern popular music has been widespread and profound. Artists ranging from Bono to Nick Cave cite Cohen as a major influence on their own work. His songs have been covered by generations of artists from REM, Elton John, Jeff Buckley, Aaron Neville, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and many, many more.
Even before shifting his focus from poetry and novels to music in the late-1960s, Leonard Cohen has been the subject of countless books and films, most recently in the feature documentary "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" by Australian film-maker Lian Lunson. The film included footage from the recent sold-out Cohen tribute concerts at the Sydney Opera House, which saw the likes of Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright and many other celebrated performers gather together to pay homage to Cohen and his extraordinary cannon of songs.
Earlier this year, when Cohen was inducted into the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, his old friend Lou Reed put it most succinctly: "We're so lucky to be alive at the same time Leonard Cohen is."
It is only apt that Australia's own poet laureate, Paul Kelly, join Leonard Cohen on tour for the Australian dates. The eight time ARIA Award winner and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee is renowned for his powerfully political lyrics and passionate performances.
At 74, Leonard Cohen is an undeniable master of song, a living legend. It is a privilege and honour that Mr Leonard Cohen and his amazing nine-piece band have accepted The Frontier Touring Company and Roundhouse's invitation to return to Australia after an absence of 24 years.
This will be a once-in-a-generation concert event for all lovers of fine music, a spellbinding show from one of the true masters. Ladies and gentlemen ... Mr Leonard Cohen.
The Leonard Cohen Band
Rafael Gayol - percussion
Roscoe Beck - musical director, bass, background vocals
Neil Larsen - keyboards
Javier Mas - bandurria, laud, archilaud and 12-string guitar
Bob Metzger - guitars, pedal steel, background vocals
Sharon Robinson - background vocals
Dino Soldo - saxophone, wind instruments, harmonica, keyboard and background vocals
The Webb Sisters - background vocal, harp & guitar
SATURDAY JANUARY 31 2009 - BIMBADGEN ESTATE, HUNTER VALLEY
Gold: $299.90 plus b/fee
Silver: $201.00 plus b/fee
General Admission: $129.00 plus b/fee
Tickets available from Ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100.
For VIP dinner & show packages, contact Ticketmaster on (03) 9685 2477.
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY NOVEMBER 10
TRANSPORT INFORMATION:
For coach enquiries, contact Rover Coaches (02) 4990 1699.
For accommodation enquiries, contact Hunter Valley Wine Country (02) 4990 0900.
GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION:
'a day on the green' is a fully licensed event. Strictly no BYO alcohol. Food will be available on site or BYO picnic. Picnic rugs and deck chairs are recommended. Gates open at 4:30pm.
For full event information, please visit www.adayonthegreen.com.au.
