Leonard Cohen Announces World Tour on Heels of Rock Hall Induction

On the evening of his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Leonard Cohen released details of his first world tour in fifteen years. Confirmed by the Canadian artist’s official website, the much-anticipated tour will commence on June 6 with a two-night stand in Toronto. Three consecutive dates later in the month at the Montreal Jazz Festival mark the only other North American performances on the issued itinerary, but additional dates are expected to surface soon. A series of European dates fill out the schedule, including appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival as well as at England’s mammoth Glastonbury Festival.

On Monday night at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the music and literary legend received a distinguished welcome as he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Following a sprawling yet heartfelt tribute by Lou Reed, Cohen took to the podium, his hands a bit shaky with age, but his deep voice – as well as his wit – still very much in command. Modifying a famous and prophetic line once written about a young Bruce Springsteen, he deadpanned, “I have seen the future of Rock and Roll, and he is not Leonard Cohen.” Indeed, he appeared a bit bemused by his inclusion in the Rock and Roll pantheon, but his humble appreciation of the honor was nothing short of genuine. He concluded his remarks by reciting the words to “Tower of Song,” punctuating each verse with a cadence equally assertive and insightful. His rendering of the last stanza, in particular, seemed strikingly appropriate:

Now I bid you farewell, I don’t know when I’ll be back
They’re moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you’ll be hearing from me baby, long after I’m gone
I’ll be speaking to you sweetly from my window in the Tower of Song

Irish singer/songwriter Damien Rice delivered a sparse and inspired performance of “Hallelujah,” evocative more of the late Jeff Buckley’s somber rendition than Cohen’s original. Regardless, the song’s author certainly received his due.

The confirmed details of Leonard Cohen’s 2008 world tour are as follows:

06-Jun-08 Toronto, Canada Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
(Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 15, 11:00 a.m. EST)

07-Jun-08 Toronto, Canada Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
(Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 15, 11:00 a.m. EST)

14-Jun-08 Dublin, Ireland IMMA

15-Jun-08 Dublin, Ireland IMMA

17-Jun-08 Manchester, UK Opera House

18-Jun-08 Manchester, UK Opera House

19-Jun-08 Manchester, UK Opera House

20-Jun-08 Manchester, UK Opera House

23-Jun-08 Montreal, Canada Montreal Jazz Festival / Place des Arts
(Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. EST)

24-Jun-08 Montreal, Canada Montreal Jazz Festival / Place des Arts
(Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. EST)

25-Jun-08 Montreal, Canada Montreal Jazz Festival / Place des Arts
(Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. EST)

29-Jun-08 Glastonbury, UK Glastonbury Festival
01-Jul-08 Oslo, Norway Aliset Stadium

03-Jul-08 Helsingborg, Sweden Open Air

05-Jul-08 Copenhagen, Denmark Rosenborg Castle

06-Jul-08 Arhuus, Denmark Raadhus Parken

08-Jul-08 Montreux, Switzerland Montreux Jazz Festival

09-Jul-08 Lyon, France Festival

10-Jul-08 Bruges, Belgium Cactus

12-Jul-08 Amsterdam, Holland Westerdam

16-Jul-08 Edinburgh, UK Castle

17-Jul-08 London, UK The 02 Arena

19-Jul-08 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo

20-Jul-08 Bennicasim, Spain Festival

22-Jul-08 Nice, France Jazz Festival

25-Jul-08 Lorrach, Germany Stimmen De Welt

27-Jul-08 Lucca, Italy Summer Festival

29-Jul-08 Athens, Greece Lykabettus Theatre