Leonard Cohen Celebrated in New York City with Tribute Concerts & Film Screenings
Leonard Cohen may have passed in November, but celebrations of the Canadian musician’s life and work continue to filter in. Over the next few weeks in New York City, the man will be remembered in film, poetry and song.
In terms of tribute shows, there are four we suggest putting on your radar asap. Tonight, the Music Hall of Williamsburg hosts Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Celebration of Leonard Cohen. The concert, which doubles as a benefit for The Preemptive Love Coalition, features Lee Ranaldo, Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Josh Ritter, Richard Thompson, Joan as Policewoman, Holly Miranda, and more interpreting compositions by the late musician. Sheff will also be part of a musical gathering at HiFi bar on Wednesday, February 8 that includes performances by Bird of Youth, John Brodeur, Heather Eatman, John Wray and more. More details on that event can be found here. On Thursday, January 26, Cohen will be honored by musicians and poets at the KGB Bar Red Room. And, after hosting a wake for Cohen at Barbes in December, Sean Cronin’s Very Good will be playing the music of Cohen on Monday, February 20 at Threes Brewery in Brooklyn.
As for Cohen on film, through January 31, Film Forum is screening Tony Palmer’s long-lost documentary Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire. The film, which was never released theatrically, follows Cohen during his 1972 European concert tour and features performances of “Suzanne”, “Sisters of Mercy”, “Famous Blue Raincoat”, and more. Watch a trailer for the film below.
The Anthology Film Archives is also feting Cohen with a film series that showcases numerous film projects the musician was involved with, whether as subject, composer, actor or inspiration. Entitled Darker: Celebrating Leonard Cohen, the program runs from February 17-19 and includes screenings of Ladies & Gentleman…Mr. Leonard Cohen, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Beware of a Holy Whore, and Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Also, for theater members only, Anthology is hosting a free screening of Chantal Akerman’s Portrait of a Young Girl at the End of the 1960s Brussels. For more information about the series visit the Anthology Film Archives website.