The Life & Times of Leonard Cohen

Sat, 23 May, 2026 at 06:30 pm UTC+02:00

20 Alma Rd, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town

The Alma Cafe
Publisher/HostThe Alma Cafe
The Life & Times of Leonard Cohen
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement

Event Venue

20 Alma Rd, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa, 20 Alma Rd, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa

Tickets

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Cape Town

Pattern Play Runway Showcase - Entries Now Open
Sat, 23 May at 02:00 pm Pattern Play Runway Showcase - Entries Now Open

Melkbosstrand High School

South of Bourbon Street - A Long Street Heritage Walking Tour
Sat, 23 May at 02:00 pm South of Bourbon Street - A Long Street Heritage Walking Tour

Long Street Baths & Turkish Steam Bath

Kan Jy Dans | All Female 1v1 Dance Battle
Sat, 23 May at 04:00 pm Kan Jy Dans | All Female 1v1 Dance Battle

The Palms Woodstock Cape Town

Nomadic Orchestra and Dukes of Note live at The Loft, Hout Bay
Sat, 23 May at 06:00 pm Nomadic Orchestra and Dukes of Note live at The Loft, Hout Bay

31 Hout Bay Harbour Rd, Hout Bay, 7806, South Africa

Spoegwolf in Cape Town
Sat, 23 May at 06:00 pm Spoegwolf in Cape Town

The Daisy Jones Bar

The DeadBeats Live at Woodstock Brewery
Sat, 23 May at 07:00 pm The DeadBeats Live at Woodstock Brewery

Woodstock Brewery

Just Adrian @Grassroots live music
Sat, 23 May at 10:00 pm Just Adrian @Grassroots live music

Bloubergrant, Milnerton

Cultivating Excellence Fundraiser
Sun, 24 May at 05:00 am Cultivating Excellence Fundraiser

Plumstead, Western Cape, South Africa

FIG Congress 2026
Sun, 24 May at 09:00 am FIG Congress 2026

Cape Town, South Africa

\u2728 THE DAY OF YOUR MIRACLE \u2728
Sun, 24 May at 09:00 am ✨ THE DAY OF YOUR MIRACLE ✨

216 Voortrekker Rd, Parow, Cape Town, 7500, África do Sul, 7500 Cape Town, South Africa

Pentecost Sunday
Sun, 24 May at 09:30 am Pentecost Sunday

225 Lansdowne Road Claremont, 7708 Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Cape Town Events