First Aid Kit Announces Leonard Cohen Tribute Live Album ‘Who By Fire’

Sweden’s First Aid Kit will honor Leonard Cohen with Who By Fire, a live album featuring highlights captured during the duo’s two-night run of Cohen tributes held in 2017 at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm. The sister act shared “Suzanne” from the 20-track live album, which is set for release via Sony Sweden/Columbia Records on March 26.

The pair were joined by many of their musical friends for the Cohen tributes in 2017. Guests include Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, Johanna Söderberg and Jesper Lindell. First Aid Kit & Friends presented their renditions of such Leonard Cohen classics as “Hallelujah,” “So Long Marianne,” “Chelsea Hotel #2” and the title track.

“We recently listened back to this concert and realized that this was something out of the ordinary for us. It was a challenge to create a performance that wasn’t centered around First Aid Kit songs,” explained the duo in a statement. “It was something we’d never done before, but everything came together so well. Dwelling deeply into Cohen’s world was a pleasure, he was so prolific as both a poet and a songwriter, and everything he ever put out held a very strong standard. He cared immensely for his work. The band, the guest artists, the atmosphere on stage…everyone had a great passion and it felt magical. This is definitely a record that is best enjoyed listening to back-to-back with no interruptions. Allow yourself to just disappear into Cohen’s world for a little while.”

First Aid Kit’s Who By Fire presents the performances unedited. “The flaws are part of the live experience,” added the duo. “In a time when you sadly can’t go to an actual physical live show, you can listen to this and imagine you were there…”

Stream “Suzanne” from First Aid Kit’s Who By Fire below:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/suzanne-live/1553790020?i=1553790021

Who By Fire Tracklist

1. Tired
2. Suzanne
3. Sisters of Mercy
4. Who by Fire / As The Mist Leaves No Scar
5. Twelve O’Clock Chant
6. Everybody Knows
7. Avalanche
8. The Future
9. Chelsea Hotel No.5
10. You Want It Darker
11. If It Be Your Will
12. The Asthmatic
13. Famous Blue Raincoat / Anthem
14. Show Me The Place
15. Hallelujah
16. Prayer for Messiah
17. Bird on the Wire
18. Who by Fire
19. So Long Marianne
20. You’d Sing Too