MUSIC NEWS- Canadian folk poet Leonard Cohen's world tour will come to an end this December in Las Vegas.  After coming out of semi-retirement after a 15 year break back in May 2008 to perform 240 shows in mostly large venues around the globe, he take a break from touring at his December 10 and 11 shows.

Cohen, marking his 76th b'day this month, has said he will return to the studio in 2011to record his first album of new material since "Dear Heather" in 2004.   His tour promoter, AEG Live says he will take time off from the road "for some time". 

The final four concerts will kick off in Honolulu at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on December 4. Cohen will play the Rose Quarter Theater of the Clouds in Portland, OR, on December 8, and then the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas marking his first USA concerts since November 2009.  He's currently on tour in Europe after being sidelined by back injuries during the first half of the year. He returns to New Zealand and Australia in October and November, then finishing up in Cambodia on November 27 before the Hawaiian show.

Tickets for the newly announced USA shows go on sale on September 24.