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Feast of a ladies' man
Leonard Cohen will be inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this fortnight. Kirstin Innes finds out about a very Scottish celebration of the man and his myths
here‘s no particular reason why (ilasgow poetry
promoters Vital Syn/ are holding a Leonard
(‘ohen Supper this fortnight. It's not the great songwriter's birthday. and he's still. as far as we know. in rude health. He is being inducted into the Rock 8; Roll Hall of lame on the Monday ll) March. but that seems to be entirely coincidental. too.
Yes. we said Leonard (‘ohen Supper. That‘s your
basic Burns Supper template. but with a completely different poet. and tea and oranges l‘Su/anne"s sustenance of choice). rather than a haggis. piped in.
‘lt‘s a tongue-in-cheek celebration.‘ says Donny ()‘Rourke. Scottish poet. broadcaster and Burns Supper host par titt‘c/lcrit't'. “But that doesn't mean some seriotts points won't be made. We'll be praising Lenny. of course. but also looking at some of the weirdnesses. contradictions and difficulties in his oeuyre too.‘
While O‘Rourke will be proposing a toast to Cohen's
Immortal Memory. and actor Stewart Ennis and former
Bluebells the McCluskey Brothers will perform songs and poems from his forty-year career. don‘t expect Li/ Lochhead. who's proposing a Toast To Lenny"s Lasses. to skip over the jet-black. often problematic. carnality at the heart of many of the lyrics. There will be screenings of rare archiye performance footage.
informal lectures on themes and motifs. and (‘ohen's Vegan dish and cocktails of choice for those interested in eating food and drinking wine.
Given the deep. almost deyout reyerence (‘ohen eyokes in listeners worldwide. my next question for ()‘Rourke feels somewhat supet'litious: why ('ohen'.’
'When I started out writing poetry and beginning to be published. I had no notion to be Hugh McDiarmid.‘ he says. 'My role model was Leonard (often. and those songs. his songs. I think. remain as good as any written at any stage in the history of songwriting.
‘The thing that makes a good Burns Supper is its tone. That tone has to be informed and respectful. but not po-faced or solemn: there must be wit and warmth and informalin that can nonetheless create and stistain ritual and there's something ritualistic about Cohen‘s work in terms of his interests. his themes. (‘ohen is Very tnuch the rabbi. the bard. the liuropean cabaret singer. And the spirit is important. \\'e w ill hope. while haying our tongues in our cheeks. to manage simultaneoust to place our hands on our hearts. And we will celebrate him as he ought to be celebrated.’
Sing another song. boy's.
Sloan’s, Glasgow, Thu 28 Feb, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 on the door or from www.vitalsynz.co.uk
T ‘I. *
SIMPLY SPLENDID SHOPPING '
>l< Fairtrade Experience Just a hop away from the weekly Buchanan Street-on-a-Saturday toil IS the largest Fairtrade Fortnight event in the UK. with stalls selling everything ethical, speakers from Fairtrade-affiliated farms in Africa and South America 8. live music. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 1 8 Sun 2 Mar.
=l< Love Thy Neighbour: Kenya in Crisis Fashion Show Following the post- election crisis in Kenya. Mission in Action have organised a third, highly-anticipated. high-fashion fundraising show. Also featuring Dollskabeat and DJs Kev Wright and Olivia Rutherford. Contact info@missioninaction.co.uk Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Wed 5 Mar.
>l< The Village Fete Hip crafty stalls from ECA students and local professionals, including a stall run by Glasgow shop Hitherto. and postcards and records by FOUND's Tommy Perman. Local promoters Tracer Trails are doing the music, so. you know. you can dance if you want to. Old St Pau/‘s Church. Edinburgh, Sat 8 Mar.
>i< All Saints Night All Saints Edinburgh are offering a select elect the chance to preview their Spring Summer collection (pictured), with a hefty 20% disc0unt. The fun then shifts to the VIP room of GHQ, with All Saints goody bags for all. Email GHOevent@ allsaintscouk, and quickly — places are allocated on a first-come basis. All Saints (Princes Street), Edinburgh, Tue 77 Mar.
2‘: Feb—’3 Mar 2008 THE LIST 29