An evening descends on a perfect spring day with Hanging Rock as the backdrop,a crowd of 12,000 awaits Canadian singer-poet Leonard Cohen.Credit:Ken Irwin
Last night,though,Hanging Rock was transformed into that most modern of facilities,an outdoor concert venue,as the surrounding hills echoed to the soulful bass voice of Leonard Cohen.
The sun set behind the rock and the moon rose behind the crowd,Cohen's inspiring brand of melancholy warming a crowd braced against a chill spring night.
''I was born with the gift of a golden voice,''the 76-year-old Canadian sang inTower of Song,to cheers of approval from the crowd.
Clare Bowditch,Dan Sultan and Paul Kelly primed the 12,000-strong soldout crowd that had descended on Woodend for its first big concert,fulfilling a long-time dream of Melbourne music promoter,Svengali and local resident,Michael Gudinski,to turn the bowl into a major venue,in the spirit of the famous Red Rocks in Colorado.
Gudinski has permission for a number of concerts,as long as they are wrapped up before the April nesting season of the powerful owl.
A ring road and fencing had been constructed around the rock,as well as mood lighting for when the sun went down.
A logjam of traffic was inching into the car park as Paul Kelly,who also supported Cohen last year,delighted the crowd with a string of favourites includingDeeper Water,To Her Door andHow to Make Gravy. Vika Bull helped out on Kelly'sSweet Guy.