Latest news with #LeonardCohen
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Your guide to museums in Ottawa and Gatineau: What's new and where to go
The nation's capital is home to many of the country's major cultural institutions . Whether you're visiting for the first time or grew up in the area, the museums in Ottawa-Gatineau are always worth a visit. You'll find an ever-changing array of temporary exhibitions, plus perennial favourites such as the dinosaur gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History, not to mention the distinctive architecture of each building. Here's a guide to what's happening at Ottawa museums right now: Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 100 Laurier St., Gatineau; Designed by architect Douglas Cardinal and completed in 1989, the exterior of the 93,000 square-metre institution is distinguished by undulating curves that hug the shores of the Ottawa River across from Parliament Hill. Retro – Popular Music in Canada From the '60s, '70s and '80s This temporary exhibition salutes the explosive growth of pop music in Canada over three decades, from the 1960s to the '80s. Explore the careers of superstars like Leonard Cohen, Rush and Celine Dion, and see some iconic artifacts, from the wedding dress worn by k.d. lang at the 1985 JUNO Awards to lyrics handwritten by Ottawa-born folk music legend, Bruce Cockburn. It's included in regular admission and runs until Jan. 18, 2026. Permanent features to explore: The Canadian Children's Museum; Canadian Stamp Collection; Canadian History Hall; First Peoples Hall; Grand Hall. Also : The Indian Residential School Monument, an 18-foot non-traditional totem pole carved from the truck of a red cedar tree that features the unsmiling faces of 130 children. Located in the Four Seasons Salon on Level 1. Plus: Screenings of family-friendly films at CINÉ+ , a 295-seat movie theatre equipped with a huge, dome-shaped 3D screen. 240 McLeod St.; Canada's natural history museum is housed in the Victoria Memorial Museum Building, an historic castle-like structure made of local sandstone that opened in 1912. It was designed by David Ewart as a counterpart to the Centre Block of the original Parliament Buildings. What's on: The Man Who Planted Trees: An Immersive Tale This temporary exhibition was inspired by a haunting, made-in-Canada animated short that won an Oscar in 1988. Now it's been expanded and reimagined as an immersive experience that focuses on the biodiversity of a forest. It features an audio guide to each of the 20 science-based zones created by museum staff – plus a life-size, interactive 'tree' that responds to hand motions. Art installations and stories of inspiring tree planters are also included, along with screenings of the original film in French and English. To Oct. 13. Rewilding: Nature meets art in this exhibition of works by 13 Canadian artists from across the country who were selected by the David Suzuki Foundation as winners of its inaugural Rewilding Arts Prize. The artists give a new perspective to biodiversity with pieces that interpret the concept of rewilding, defined as restoring a natural environment to its original, self-sustaining state. Among the projects you'll see are Cole Swanson's 24-carat-gilded insect specimens, Janice Wright Cheney's crocheted representation of a polar bear, and Angela Marsh's tapestries of plant fragments and bubble wrap. To Oct. 20. The Minerals of Mont Saint-Hilaire : The latest addition to the Earth gallery showcases more than 70 specimens from Mont Saint-Hilaire, just east of Montreal, plus a selection of recent acquisitions from the world-class Haineault collection. You will also find out why this small mountain in Quebec has such a high concentration of rare minerals. (Permanent exhibition, included in museum admission). Butterflies in Flight is back by popular demand until Jan. 4, 2026, showcasing a diverse array of live butterflies soaring freely in the Solarium. Symbiosis: A forest-inspired installation led by artist cj fleury that features a grove of trees created from strips of mulberry paper, which are covered in hand-drawn images of woodland fauna and flora. Projected onto the drawings are videos of the Outaouais forest, with an original score from the Juno-winning chamber ensemble Esmerine. To Oct. 13. Our Land, Our Art: Created to shine a spotlight on the northern part of Quebec known as Nunavik, this exhibition juxtaposes digital images with ancient cultural artifacts. Runs to Oct. 14. Permanent galleries to explore: Fossils, Earth, Birds, Arctic, Bugs Alive, Mammals, Water and the Pacific Discovery Tank. 1 Vimy Place; Situated at LeBreton Flats, the institution dedicated to Canada's military history was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama to reflect environmental sustainability. Opened in 2005, one of its most striking exterior features is the 10,684 square-metre 'green' roof, which consists of a self-sustaining ecosystem of tall grasses native to the area. Exhibitions at the Canadian War Museum Last Voices of the Second World War, to Jan. 18. Hear powerful new interviews with some of the last surviving veterans of the war, and their family members, on the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict. Canada at War Against Japan, 1941–1945, to Aug. 31, 2026. T his exhibition explores Canada's involvement in the war against Japan, including the Battle of Hong Kong, the experiences of prisoners of war, and the forced relocation of Japanese Canadians. Canada's Unknown Soldier . To May 24, 2026. To mark 25 years since the repatriation of Canada's Unknown Soldier, this 18-panel wall display explores the history, legacy and significance of his tomb at the National War Memorial. Invasion! – Canadians and the Battle of Normandy, 1944, to Nov. 17. This panel exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of the epic campaign. Legion National Foundation's Annual Poster and Literary Contest Winners: See the winning entries created by students from across the country. Runs to Oct. 13. Canadian Experience galleries to explore: Early Wars in Canada; The South African and First World Wars; The Second World War; From the Cold War to the Present. Also: The Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour; LeBreton Gallery of Military Technology; Memorial Hall; Moriyama Regeneration Hall. 11 Aviation Parkway; Canada's museum of aviation history moved to its current location on a former military air base in 1988. The 8,200 square-metre Reserve Hangar was a later addition, built for storage in 2005 and lending a distinctive flair with its angular shape and reflective metal shell. Permanent exhibitions: Engines: The Power to Fly!; Life in Orbit: The International Space Station; The Story of Human Flight; Canada in Space; Health in Space: Daring to Explore; Eyes on the Skies: Managing Air Traffic Control in Canada; The Cold War. Plus: Book a tour of the Reserve Hangar, where the planes not on display are stored, including a de Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito B XX and the wing tips of the Avro CF-105 Arrow 2. (Note: The tour is not recommended for children) 901 Prince of Wales Dr.; This working farm-turned-museum is located at the Central Experimental Farm, a national heritage site in the heart of Ottawa, complete with a horse barn, dairy barn, sheep field, poultry house, soil lab, demonstration kitchen and more. Temporary exhibitions: Lii Buflo: A Métis Way of Life : Learn about the history of the Métis and the bison through storytelling and artwork from the Métis community. The Island In the Middle of Everywhere , To Oct. 6, 2025. Take a remarkable journey to Xwe'etay (pronounced hwe-e-tay), also known as Lasqueti Island, which is part of the Northern Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Permanent exhibitions: Memories are Made in the Kitchen; Discovery Park (outdoor exhibition); Aquaculture: Farming the Waters; Farming for the Future; Sustainable Agricultural Gallery. 1867 St. Laurent Blvd.; The former bakery on St. Laurent Boulevard, which became a museum in the 1960s, was fully revamped in 2017, alongside a state-of-the-art storage facility constructed to protect and showcase Canada's national science and technology collection. What's on: Steam: A World in Motion. Learn how steam power helped shape this country via the museum's collection of locomotive cars and scale models. Other permanent exhibitions to explore: Artifact Alley; Crazy Kitchen+; From Earth to Us; Hidden Worlds; Medical Sensations; Sound by Design; Technology in Our Lives; Wearable Tech; ZOOOM: Children's Innovation Zone; Into the Great Outdoors lsaxberg@ Join us! The Ottawa Citizen is hosting an exclusive food and beverage tasting event where you can try bites from some of the city's best restaurants and sample beverages from breweries and wineries. Meet the chefs and try their signature dishes with members of the Citizen news team. Learn more about Ottawa Citizen Best Restaurants and buy a ticket here .
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country Star's Epic Rendition of 'Hallelujah' Leaves Concert Goers Speechless
Country Star's Epic Rendition of 'Hallelujah' Leaves Concert Goers Speechless originally appeared on Parade. Country star Eric Church has completed an awe-inspiring three-night run at Red Rocks in Colorado. Church, 48, took the stage for the first time in nine years, emotional knowing the last time his son was there, he had been watching the show from the comfort of a Baby Bjorn, noise-canceling headphones in tow. Related: Tennis Legend, 66, Makes Bold Admission About His Life Falling Apart The Nashville, Tennessee–based country star dazzled across the three-night run, challenging himself to perform different sets each night — not unlike another musical icon, Bruce Springsteen. Over the first two nights at Red Rocks, Church performed a total of 45 different songs. By night three of the sold-out run, under a canopy of rain, Church opened with Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah.' As the crowd sang along, Church promised fans a remarkable night — one well worth braving the weather. Eric Church has become synonymous with 'best night of my life' performances, and his Red Rocks shows did not disappoint. In video clips of the singer's stripped-down rendition of Cohen's iconic hit, fans marveled at Church's raw talent, flooding the comments with praise. Related: 'Time of the Season' Singer, 80, Wows Fans With Ageless Voice: 'Sounds Amazing for His Age' 'Speechless,' wrote one starstruck fan, while another added, 'The most incredible performance I've seen! Four hours by himself!' 'I'll see ya in another nine years,' Church joked at the end of the night. Judging by the rousing response to his Red Rocks performances, fans are hoping they won't have to wait that long again. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Country Star's Epic Rendition of 'Hallelujah' Leaves Concert Goers Speechless first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Edmonton Journal
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida says 'O Canada' moment in Edmonton gave him 'chills'
Article content It's not easy no matter what you're doing. I think at the end of the day, you get better at communicating … sometimes you find a much more balanced place in terms of what's important and what everyone's expectations are. But I think at the end of the day what kept OLP going was it was always about the song first. It's always about being inspired to write songs and go into the studio and record music and go play it live … and that hasn't diminished at all … The songs we recorded for those OLP30 albums we did in Nashville … it felt like those old days … where it's not about money, and it's just about that feeling in a studio and that feeling of having the hair on the back of your neck stand up. We've always tried to keep those moments at the forefront. Article content Article content Is there a Canadian artist that had a big impact on you guys? Article content Article content There's so many from Joni Mitchell to Rush to Neil Young to the (Tragically) Hip. But Leonard Cohen has always been this elder statesman of Canada. I started in music more as a poet. I was writing during math class. That was my vehicle to getting the thoughts I had in my head out. So, I always felt a strong connection to Leonard Cohen. Article content I saw you guys play in a small club in Chicago back in 2000 and it made me wonder if there was an artist you never got to see that you wished you had? Article content Article content There's one, and it's one of the biggest regrets of my life. We had just finished a tour in the U.S. and flown home from Texas. I was exhausted. My voice was done and my body was wrecked. But we were on Sony, and so was Jeff Buckley, and he was playing the Danforth Music Hall. We got home at 1 in the afternoon and I got to my apartment and I fell asleep, and I slept through it. I don't think Jeff Buckley ever came back to Toronto because he passed away shortly afterwards. Not seeing him live is definitely a regret. Article content Article content We did a show before we announced this OLP30 Tour at Lee's Palace. It was amazing walking back into that place. The smell of that bad draft beer. It was exactly the same. Thank God, nothing has changed about that venue. We've played CBGB in New York back in the day and now it's a fancy clothing store and the Viper Room is still here in L.A., but who knows how long that will last. The fact that Lee's is still there, smelling the same way … The show was phenomenal. That was a big highlight. It made it fun to remember. There were days that I played there on a Tuesday night and there was six people in the room. So to come full circle was pretty special.
Irish Times
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
How Leonard Cohen fans are putting pressure on the Greek island of Hydra
One April day in 1960 a pale, gangly man in his mid-20s stepped off the boat on the Greek island of Hydra unaware that the tiny island – and the people he met there – would shape his life in extraordinary ways. The young man carried a Canadian passport and his name was Leonard Cohen . A dreary soCanadianjourn in London had prompted his trip to Greece in search of sun and he had heard that Hydra – locals pronounce it 'Ee-dra' – was home to a community of artists and writers trying to make sense of the postwar world. Cohen would find his writer's voice here amid what American novelist Henry Miller described as Hydra's 'wild and naked perfection'. He would meet Marianne Ihlen, the Norwegian woman who would become one of the great loves of his life and an inspiration for his work, most famously his song So Long, Marianne. He would live with her and her son in a modest house he bought with $1,500 he received in his grandmother's will. The back cover of Cohen's 1969 album Songs From a Room features a photograph of a smiling Ihlen at home in Hydra, wrapped in a towel and typing at the desk they shared. There, nestled among Hydra's steep and narrow streets that rise amphitheatre-like above its horseshoe-shaped port, they led a simple life. READ MORE Trouble would later come to paradise in the form of tensions between Cohen and Ihlen, including regarding his spiralling drug use, and rifts within the bohemian expatriate milieu they inhabited, but for a spell at least, it was a charmed life that laid the foundation for much of Cohen's later creative output. More than 60 years later and almost a decade since Cohen died at the age of 82, his name remains indelibly linked with Hydra. Many Cohen fans come here in search of what it was about this rugged island with a permanent population of little over 2,000 that made him the singer-songwriter he later became. When Cohen first pitched up here, there was no running water, electricity or cars. Cohen was inspired to write his song Bird On The Wire after observing the installation of telephone poles on the island. Today, cars and other motor traffic remain banned but the island's unique appeal is drawing more visitors. Locals – known as Hydriots – debate how to manage this growing tourism and the impact of foreigners buying up properties to use as holiday homes or rent out on Airbnb in a place where heritage laws mean no new buildings can be constructed. For years, there was a low-key approach to the Cohen footprint here. When asked, shopkeepers and restaurant owners might – or might not – give directions to his residence, which remains in the family. His children Adam and Lorca often visit the island and stay there. Adam produced some of his father's posthumous work in the unassuming bougainvillea-draped house and the video for the track Moving On – which was filmed on Hydra – includes scenes from its sparsely furnished interior. In 2016, the mayor of Hydra, George Koukoudakis, decided to name the alleyway that leads to the house after Cohen, an unusual gesture on an island with few street signs. The blue and white metal plaque was inaugurated the following year. As a result, there are more visitors now and they often leave flowers, candles and other offerings on the doorstep. One fan's homage took the form of carefully arranged Lipton tea bags and oranges in reference to the lyrics of Cohen's song Suzanne. [ From the archive: Leonard Cohen: the key songs and what they mean Opens in new window ] 'Leonard Cohen became a Hydriot in many respects,' Koukoudakis, who was elected for a third term in 2023, told me in his office, which is lined with portraits of Hydra's legendary seafarers and independence fighters. 'We consider him a Hydriot. His second home was always this island and we wanted to honour him in a permanent way.' Koukoudakis has also sought to have Hydra twinned with Cohen's birthplace of Montreal. Marianne Ihlen and Leonard Cohen on Hydra, with Ihlen's son Axel jnr Photograph: James Burke/The Life Picture Collection/Getty Older Hydriots often tell stories of Cohen and their encounters with him, including locals who carried out repairs at his house or helped him with paperwork. Sometimes in these stories the lines can appear blurred between what is real and apocryphal but the overwhelming impression is of a man who, as Koukoudakis notes, was not just widely liked but who was treated as an adopted Hydriot. Locals like to cite what Cohen told a BBC documentary in 1988: 'There's nowhere in the world you can live like you can in Hydra. And that includes Hydra.' Shortly after Cohen landed on Hydra in 1960, a photographer from Life magazine came to capture the bohemian scene that had emerged on the island. One of the images shows Cohen sitting under a tree at Xeri Elia Taverna, also known as Douskos (the name of the family that owns it), strumming a guitar, surrounded by friends. Next to him is Charmian Clift, an Australian writer whose novels Peel Me A Lotus and Mermaid Singing chronicled the lives of the expat creatives who had then converged on Hydra. Another photo shows Cohen, Clift and Ihlen fresh from swimming at one of the island's pebbly beaches. Douskos is still operating and its owners indulge visitors who want to sit next to 'Leonard's tree' as they peruse a menu that features a poem of Cohen's written in 1967: 'They are still singing down at Dusko's/sitting under the ancient pine tree … ' Douskos is on the itinerary of local walking tours focusing on Hydra's literary and artistic heritage. It is also a mainstay for the Cohen fans who organise an annual gathering on the island. This includes concerts by tribute bands and it draws people from across the world – including many from Ireland – a testament to the wide and enduring appeal of his music. Hydra town, and its horseshoe-shaped port. Photograph: iStock In 2016, the mayor of Hydra, George Koukoudakis, decided to name the alleyway that leads to the house after Cohen In 2017, these fans got permission from the Historical Office in Athens to install a stone and wood bench overlooking the Aegean in Cohen's honour. His lyrics 'I came so far for beauty … ' along with the Greek translation are painted on the wooden backrest. Located on a cliffside road that connects Hydra's main town to Kamini beach, it's a favourite sunset viewing spot for both locals and visitors. In recent years, there have been signs of attempts to cash in on the Cohen connection that have dismayed some locals and visiting fans. Canvas tote bags emblazoned with lyrics from some of Cohen's best-known songs can be found in the port-side souvenir shops that cater for the hundreds of day-trippers disgorged each morning by ferries coming from Piraeus. A boutique on the quay is named Everybody Knows, the title of a track from Cohen's 1988 album I'm Your Man. 'It can be quite tasteless,' says one resident who is a friend of Cohen's children. 'I'm not sure who is actually buying those bags.' [ Leonard Cohen and Ireland: he saved the last dance for us Opens in new window ] Mayor Koukoudakis maintains that Hydra will always escape the excesses of mass tourism because it is car-free and new construction is banned but many locals and long-time visitors fret that the island risks losing, in other ways, what makes it unique. They have seen spikes of Leonard Cohen-related tourism in recent years coinciding with Nick Broomfield's 2019 documentary Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love and So Long, Marianne, a jointly produced Norwegian-Canadian eight-part drama series streamed on several platforms last year. The latter, which was lushly filmed in Hydra, seems to have introduced Cohen – and the island – to a whole new generation, according to locals. During my recent trip, I met a visiting Norwegian couple who told me the series had proved a hit in Ihlen's home country. It turned out that the woman had been a palliative nurse for Ihlen's former husband – the man she left for Cohen – Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, when he lay dying in Norway in 2003. In Hydra, so many have a story related to Leonard Cohen.
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Becoming Leonard Cohen: How this Wicklow man ended up leading his tribute band
He was a photographer who took Leonard Cohen's photo. He never dreamed one day he'd sing his songs on stage in front of 1,000s of Leonard Cohen fans Wicklow People Today at 02:00 I was looking forward to interviewing Rob Doyle over afternoon tea and oranges (that come all the way from China) but things did not work out that way… The Wicklow townie now spends much of his time in Spain rather than Ireland, living a handy drive from the airport in Alicante. There he plots the progress of Cohen Unlimited, the tribute band which has become an unexpected hit with followers of the Canadian singer-songwriter who died back in 2016. Pubs and holiday resorts are dripping these days with tribute bands re-creating the work of Cher, or Rod Stewart, or Elton John, or other luminaries of the pop world. Related topics David Medcalf
