Leonard Cohen at the Big Chill

8:30pm Monday 4th August 2008

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WHEN the announcement came that ‘a living legend is on stage in about half an hour’ the average age of the Big Chill main stage audience went up a couple of decades.

But few matched the legendary Leonard Cohen’s 73 years and none equalled his vitality in a staggering 90-minute set.

And, no matter that the wrinklies had arrived to hear him, this extraordinary performer had captured the ‘Now’ generation too, who knew all the words and were as exuberant in their participation as their grandparents….

He held his audience enthralled as he proved why it’s so hard to define him.

From an era that produced Bob Dylan and the Beatles, he is neither and both: troubadour/poet and pop musician, conjuring so many magical moments for so many people.

Stunning musicianship from singers and backing instrumentalists surrounded his performances of all the great favourites from 'Dance Me to the End of Love' to 'Hallelujah', 'Marianne' to 'Bird on a Wire' and so many more.

“Thank you so much for coming tonight,” he said with a doff of the trilby and typical courtesy: “It’s so kind of you” before setting off on – of course - 'I’m your Man'.

The roar of approval showed he was, indeed, our man. No one seemed in a hurry to return to the cosy tented villages at Eastnor, as the master defied organisers’ deadlines.

Leonard Cohen has been dubbed the voice from a thousand gloomy bed-sits.

As we eventually made our way out of the arena a young, 20-something steward commented: “So many happy, shiny faces…”

That was our man.