Leonard Cohen back in Britain for open-air gig

LEONARD COHEN is returning to Britain to play a one-off summer show.

The singer-songwriter will play an open-air show at Mercedes-Benz World - formerly the Brooklands racetrack - in Weybridge, Surrey, in July.

The 74-year-old proved himself a cross-generational hit when he toured Britain last year for the first time in 15 years.

The motivation had principally been money after Cohen lost most of his estimated $10million fortune after he entrusted a former lover with his financial management. But the tour proved a huge critical as well as commercial success, wowing Glastonbury festival audiences and the Big Chill festival in Herefordshire. He then sold out the 02 in less than 24 hours. Another date was added and he went on to play yet more at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Canadian, who released his first album in 1967, is making a return to the UK this year. He will perform at the historic Brooklands site on Saturday 11 July, with tickets on sale from 17 April at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Cohen will also play an indoor concert at the Echo Arena Liverpool the following Tuesday.