In the 1970s, Leonard Cohen played in an asylum on the outskirts of London
In August 1970, Leonard Cohen performed at Henderson Hospital, a psychiatric institution in Sutton, before appearing at the Isle of Wight Festival. He had expressed interest in playing at psychiatric hospitals, believing that people facing personal difficulties might connect with his music.
A student nurse recalled that Cohen adapted his set when he saw the distracted audience, leading an impromptu hoedown and talking with those present. Some joined in, and the nurse said he brought joy to a place of intense misery. Two days later, Cohen performed for a vast crowd at the festival.
In short
- Cohen played at a psychiatric hospital in Sutton in 1970.
- He turned the performance into an impromptu hoedown.
- The gig came two days before his Isle of Wight appearance.
Explained simply
Leonard Cohen was a Canadian singer and songwriter whose songs often dealt with love, faith and hardship. In 1970, he was performing in Britain, including at the Isle of Wight Festival, one of the country’s best-known music events.
Henderson Hospital in Sutton was a psychiatric hospital, where people received care for serious mental health difficulties. Cohen had shown interest in performing at such hospitals, and a student nurse later recalled that he changed his approach to engage the people in the room.