The Life & Times of Leonard Cohen
Schedule
Sat, 23 May, 2026 at 06:30 pm
UTC+02:00Location
20 Alma Rd, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town, WC
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Join singer-songwriter, Dave Starke and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel Franks as they explore the life and music of the late great Leonard Cohen through the lens of his songwriting. Sat 23 May
Tickets R180pp (show only)
18h30 for 19h00 (kitchen orders close at 19h00)
*Live Music Starts AFTER Dinner Service is completed*
Dinner, Dessert and Drinks available
Fully Licensed, BYOB not permitted
Card / Cash Payment
15% Service Fee Charged
More on the Show:
A true cabaret performance - part story, part music - the show features early hits such as Suzanne and So Long Maryanne as well as the haunting ballads, Who By Fire, Famous Blue Raincoat, Sisters of Mercy and many more. Dave will also showcase some of the Cohen- influenced songs from his original albums “Duende” and “Shifting Boundaries”. The show is a must for Cohen fans, those interested in the art of songwriting and lovers of poetry and music in general.
Reviews from previous performances:
“Dave Starke’s gorgeous voice and engaging stage persona embody Cohen and win over the audience from the first few notes of his first number. Music lovers should not miss this consummate tribute to one of the world’s great songsmiths.” Mike Raftery, Durban Folk Club
“Singer-guitarist Starke pays excellent tribute to Leonard Cohen, offering not only a well-researched history of the man, his poetry, music and achievements, but also insight into Cohen’s thought processes. It is an elegant and captivating show with the cool and confident Starke doing a great job with hits such as ‘So Long Marianne’, ‘Suzanne’, ‘Sisters of Mercy’, ‘Hallelujah’ and the moving ‘Treaty’, as well as other hits and lesser-known material. Highly Recommended!” Billy Suter, The Mercury
“Dave Starke as ‘Cohen’ was the last scheduled show at the Rosebank Theatre, and one of the most brilliant. Quite simply Starke rocks!” William de Villiers
More on the Artists:
Dave Starke is a singer-songwriter in the folk tradition. With a bent for the melancholic, he writes haunting melodies that float upon gentle guitar accompaniment with occasional touches of whistling. Trained as a teacher and currently working as a counsellor, his songwriting draws on philosophy, psychology and social commentary to create self-reflective songs that are deeply rooted in the South African context. His Leonard Cohen tribute show has toured extensively across South Africa including The National Arts Festival, Hilton Arts Festival and The Rhumbelow Theatre Group. Dave has just relocated to Kalk Bay after 18 years living and in rural Zululand.
Daniel Franks is a working musician; a rare-breed of multi-instrumentalist who is able to draw from a range of instruments in his quiver at any time – from double-bass to violin, guitar to mandolin. If it has strings, he can play it.
He does this because he’s a self-admitted jazz-junky, with a special bent for wild gypsy jazz. He loves getting others hooked on jazz through his teaching of students at all levels. He also gets a kick from playing live – as a soloist and in a variety of ensembles. Daniel also owns and operates Franks Musical Instruments, an instrument repair workshop and fine instrument salesroom in the heart of Muizenberg.
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Where is it happening?
20 Alma Rd, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa, 20 Alma Rd, Cape Town, 7700, South AfricaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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