Paul Simon comes out of retirement to announce new tour
Paul Simon has announced a new extensive tour of North America, marking his first run of dates since 2018.
The new tour is somewhat of a surprise considering that seven years ago, he revealed his plans to stop touring, sharing in a statement, “I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I’d consider bringing my performing career to a natural end. Now I know: it feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating and something of a relief. I love making music, my voice is still strong, and my band is a tight, extraordinary group of gifted musicians. I think about music constantly.”
In 2018, the singer-songwriter also acknowledged that the death of his guitarist Vincent N’guini was part of the reason he planned to stop, but mainly because “the travel and time away from my wife and family takes a toll that detracts from the joy of playing.”
However, the legendary musician, who recently performed ‘Homeward Bound’ with Sabrina Carpenter on SNL50, is ready to return to the road.
The tour, which has been titled A Quiet Celebration Tour, will begin at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans on April 4th. Across the run, Simon is set to visit theatres rather than arenas and is set to play at each venue for multiple nights. Due to his hearing loss issues, Simon has chosen to play in theatres due to the acoustics. Notably, he will play five shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York and five shows at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles.
Only last year Simon admitted that he wasn’t sure if he would perform live again due to his ongoing hearing issues. He spoke about his usual process of taking new records out on tour after they reach completion, before admitting, “I’m not sure how I can integrate my voice with the guitars.” Since then, he has made a handful of one-off appearances.
However, in a later interview with The Guardian towards the end of 2024, Simon was much more positive about his chances of playing concerts again, stating, “I’m hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert. I’m optimistic. Six months ago I was pessimistic.”
Simon’s most recent solo album, Seven Psalms, was released in 2023.
Paul Simon tour dates:
April
4th – Saenger Theater, New Orleans, LA
5th – Saenger Theater, New Orleans, LA
8th – Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
10th – Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
11th – Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
14th Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
16th – Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
17th – Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
20th – Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
22nd – Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
23rd – Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
26th – Midland Theatre, Kansas City, MO
28th – Stifel Theatre, St. Louis, MO
29th – Stifel Theatre, St. Louis, MO
May
7th – AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas TX
8th – AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas TX
11th – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
13th Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
14th – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
17th – Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI
18th – Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI
21st – Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
23rd – Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
24th – Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
27th – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
29th – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
30th – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
June
6th – Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA
7th – Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA
10th – Boch Center, Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
12th – Boch Center, Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
13th – Boch Center, Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
16th – Beacon Theater, New York, NY
18th – Beacon Theater, New York, NY
20th – Beacon Theater, New York, NY
21st – Beacon Theater, New York, NY
23rd – Beacon Theater, New York, NY
26th – Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA
28th – Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA
29th – Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA
July
7th – Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Long Beach CA
9th – Disney Hall, Los Angeles, CA
11th – Disney Hall, Los Angeles, CA
12th – Disney Hall, Los Angeles, CA
14th – Disney Hall, Los Angeles, CA
16th – Disney Hall, Los Angeles, CA
19th – Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
21st – Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
22nd – Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
25th – The Orpheum, Vancouver BC
26th – The Orpheum, Vancouver BC
28th – The Orpheum, Vancouver BC
31st – Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA
August
2nd – Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA
3rd – Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA
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