Loren Kate is having a busy Adelaide Fringe 2025 presenting two different shows in one week. Tonight we are at The Jade to hear Loren singing her interpretations of some well known Leonard Cohen songs. This is the second night of a three-gig run for this show and it has a full house. With delicious backing from Chris Parkinson on guitar and Dylan Paul on double bass she begins the evening with her version of Suzanne. There is a whisper of country phrasing in the guitar and in Loren’s voice  which works well and suggests we are in for a night of respectful but not slavish renditions of some iconic songs.

What follows is a solid selection of Cohen songs which span across his career. Highlights include a lovely version of Famous Blue Raincoat and a haunting rendition of Dance Me To The End Of Love which becomes even more special when the audience joins in on the ‘la-las’. There is of course So Long, Marianne and Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye, and she somewhat bravely includes her version of Hallelujah, prefacing it with the remark that we all have our favourite version of this song, but her own version is more than commendable.

Loren Kate’s voice is distinctive and expressive. Her use of vibrato lends sincerity to her impressions and her onstage presentation is unaffected, relaxed, and very natural. All these elements make it very easy to enjoy a night of her singing. Tonight her audience is full of people who know their Cohen, and are keen to sing along with her and listen to old favourites. There is a lot of positivity floating through the room.

The evening concludes with a fabulous, jazzy version of Tower Of Song, apparently a late inclusion in the set. To my mind it is one of the best songs of the night.