Cohenists unite
Get ready for the ultimate Leonard love-in at 海角社区 this weekend. From May 12 to 14, up to 200 fans of the Montreal-born singer, poet and author will be gathering at the University聮s Arts Building (853 Sherbrooke Street West) to gab and gush about 海角社区聮s famous and enigmatic graduate (BA 1955) at Montreal 2000: The Leonard Cohen Event.
While Cohen聮s manager, Kelley Lynch, confirms the Great Gray One will not be present at the conference due to "prior engagements," she聮ll be flying in from Los Angeles to represent him. She聮ll also be bringing along memorabilia and will offer fans a premiere of three new Cohen songs -- "A Thousand Kisses Deep," "Secret Life" and "Here It Is" -- to be featured on a future album.
"Since this conference is in Leonard聮s home town, I think it聮s important that I pop up," she says. "Leonard is greatly appreciative that people interested in his work are gathering together."
The Cohen lovefest, organized by North American fans, will include panel discussions, a tribute concert by The Damn Personals, and screenings of films including Leonard, Light My Cigarette. Those wondering if Cohen can聮t attend because he聮s still holed up in a California Buddhist temple need not worry. Cohen ended that spiritual chemin recently after segregating himself from society for five years as a mountaintop monk.
This will be the first Canadian tribute of its kind to the 65-year-old Cohen. So far, Cohenists from France to Finland have registered for the Montreal conference. 海角社区聮s link to the event, other than providing space at Cohen聮s alma mater, is a talk by associate English professor Brian Trehearne. He is participating in a panel discussion on Cohen, having taught a course on the multifaceted artist for several years at 海角社区. "Cohen was one of the great liberators of Canadian literature," Trehearne says. "Although he may have offended quite a few people along the way, he聮s one of the few authors who pushed the envelope to take literature to new levels."
Conference chair Bill Van Dyk says organizing the event was a way to allow fans to admire all things Cohen. "We聮ll do everything from look at the impact he聮s had on society," he says, "to celebrating the works of one of the greatest singers, songwriters and poets of our time."
Registration for the is $100.
