Leonard Cohen donates cash to Australian bushfire victims

Leonard Cohen, current support act Paul Kelly, promoters AEGLive UK and the Frontier Touring Company are donating $200,000 (£90,000) to help victims of the bushfires that have swept across Victoria in Australia.

Cohen is currently on tour on the continent, and is set to play the final leg of his jaunt in Melbourne tonight (February 10).

In a statement Michael Gudinski, managing director of the Frontier Touring Company, said, "Leonard has loved his time in Australia on this tour and is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the fires.

"Leonard, Paul, their touring parties and everyone at AEGLive UK and the Frontier Touring Company wish to extend their heartfelt sympathies to those that have suffered the loss of loved ones or their homes through this terrible tragedy."

The official death toll of the fires, which have swept across Victoria over the past week, is 181 and is expected to rise, reports BBC News.