Use this link: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Hanging- ... nue/156210
Cohen to sing at Hanging Rock
Andrew Murfett
September 28, 2010
Ready to rock: Michael Gudinski with Clare Bowditch.
Photo: Simon Schluter
AS PROMOTER Michael Gudinski began to spend more time at his Mount Macedon holiday home near Hanging Rock, he thought hard about hosting some big shows at the location. ''It's one of the best-kept secrets in Australia,'' Gudinski said yesterday at the site.
Now, after a year of planning, Canadian vocalist, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen will be announced today as the headline act of the first rock show at Hanging Rock on Saturday, November 20. Victorian acts Paul Kelly, Clare Bowditch and Dan Sultan round out the bill.
''I've been trying for years to talk with the council about how to utilise this area,'' Gudinski said. ''The rock itself is a treasure. So we are going for more older-appealing heritage acts. Leonard is very keen. And if this works, we have an agreement from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to do a series of shows.''
Gudinski believes the Cohen show will help attract interstate visitors and eventually bring recognition to Hanging Rock in the same way U2's seminal Live at Red Rocks album did for Colorado.
Cohen is said to have jumped at the gig, having heard of the site from Peter Weir's eerie film Picnic At Hanging Rock.
The event will also aim to highlight the area's produce and wines, and proceeds from parking will go towards a local Lions club. To cope with traffic, gates will open at lunchtime and acts will play during the day, before Cohen appears in the early evening.
Although capacity for the site is 20,000 it will be capped at about 12,000 for the first show.
''We're playing on the other side of the rock, which is a beautiful open field,'' he said. ''We are not interfering with things. There will be specially designed lights to light the rock, though,'' Gudinski said.
More gigs are planned at the site for early next year. For ecological reasons - two nesting owls on the rock need to be protected - shows cannot be held after March each year.
''It will become an iconic site for live music and hopefully the home of some very special concerts over the next few years,'' Gudinski said.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/ ... 15u4c.html
*** Maarten
Hanging Rock has fascinated me ever since I saw the film many years ago...and once again a few months ago! Enjoy every moment! My spirit will be travelling with you!