Cohen described it in the liner notes to The Best of Leonard Cohen: “I had a good raincoat then, a Burberry I got in London in 1959.” It’s believed he bought it at Burberry’s on Regent Street, a purchase that would go on to inspire “Famous Blue Raincoat” from his 1971 album Songs of Love and Hate.
Not only did the coat protect him from London’s rainy days, but it also became a symbol of visibility and self-expression. The singer-songwriter described it as “the opposite of a cloak of invisibility”—a garment that allowed him to stand out rather than disappear into the crowd.
According to Cohen, someone stole the coat from Marianne Ihlen’s loft in New York in 1968. And while the raincoat may be long gone, Cohen’s music is coming back to the city where he bought it. On Saturday 24 October, classically trained musicians will be interpreting songs like “So Long Marianne”, ” Treaty” and “Hallelujah” beneath the Gothic arches of Southwark Cathedral.
28 November 2026 21:00 + more dates
Southwark Cathedral
A Leonard Cohen tribute concert in London
Southwark Cathedral has always had deep literary connections. The medieval poet John Gower, a friend of Chaucer, spent his later years living at the priory, while Edmund Shakespeare, William’s younger brother, was buried here in 1607.
It feels like a fitting setting, then, for the music of another poet. Cohen’s songs can sound like prayers, confessions or conversations held long after everyone else has gone home. At this concert, the words give way to strings, with songs including “Sisters of Mercy”, “Everybody Knows” and “I’m Your Man” on the programme.
Inside the cathedral, tall stone columns, carved choir stalls and stained-glass windows provide a striking backdrop for an evening of Cohen’s music performed by candlelight.
The 60-minute tribute concert begins at 7pm, offering a quieter way to spend a Saturday evening in London. Seats are assigned on arrival, on a first-come basis within the zone of the ticket you purchased.
Candlelight: Tribute to Leonard Cohen
28 November 2026 21:00 + more dates
Southwark Cathedral
