Paul Simon Tour Update

For immediate release: Tue 2nd April
Paul Simon: New Release of Gold Tickets Now Available for Dunedin / Introducing the Band / Show Times

Due to final production specifics, from today Tuesday 2nd April a limited number of new release Gold tickets will be available for Paul Simon’s Dunedin show.

Simon is playing the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday 6th April and Auckland’s Vector Arena on Monday 8th April with his very special guest
Rufus Wainwright joining him for both shows. Local songstress Aaradhna will be opening in Dunedin only.

Meanwhile Paul Simon has been wowing audiences in Australia, where he is currently touring as part of the national Bluesfest series of concerts. In the light of glowing show reviews,
and in anticipation of his New Zealand shows, it’s the right time to get a little insight into the show and the band. The NZ Herald TimeOut went to Perth to see the show and had this to say:

“…it can't really be overstated how wonderful his songs are. Decades on, the intricate African infusions of Graceland, the South American zing to The Rhythm of the Saints, the Jamaican and gospel inflections on There Goes Rhymin' Simon, still make for a thrilling live experience.” - Lydia Jenkin, NZ Herald

For this tour, Paul Simon brings with him his eight-piece band of incredibly accomplished and talented musicians. Reviewers are raving about the relaxed and
seemingly effortless performance of the band, all of them perfectly complementing each other and Simon’s playing.

Guitarist Vincent Nguini has been playing with Paul Simon since the 1991 ‘Born At The Right Time Tour’ and has appeared on all albums since then. Creator of the melodic
guitar lick for ‘The Coast’, owner of the famous deep voice starting ‘Diamonds’ a cappella intro, originally from Cameroon, often wearing traditional colourful African clothes on stage.

Master of the accordion, keyboard player and sometime guitarist, Tony Cedras has toured with Paul since 1987. Famous for the accordion sounds opening ‘The Boy In The Bubble’.

‘The man who wrote the most famous bass solo of all time’, Bakithi Kumalo has been with Paul since the Graceland tour and is also the most active member on stage,
famous for the 2002 dance he performed during the drum solo of ‘Diamonds’.

Drummer and guitarist Jim Oblon has also played on Paul’s wife’s latest album, the self-titled Edie Brickell. From there he has toured with Paul on his
2012 Graceland Tour and the So Beautiful Tour.

Playing percussion for Paul since his Paul/Bob tour in 1999 is Jamey Haddad. Jamey is renowned for building his own instruments, for example the Hadgenga – just
one of the many assorted instruments you will see him playing.

Pianist and percussionist Mick Rossi has been with Paul since the recording sessions for So Beautiful or So What. Paul has stated that Mick may well be the best piano
player he’s had in his band for many years and he has been his live pianist on the 2012 Graceland and the So Beautiful or So What tours.

Saxophonist and synth player Andy Snitzer first joined Paul for the 1999 Paul/Bob tour and has been touring with him since. Most famous part for Andy is the sax solo on
‘Still Crazy After All These Years’. Prior to joining Paul Simon’s band, he was a member of the Rolling Stones touring band.

And last but not least, Mark Stewart the multi-instrumentalist is a guitarist, cello player, saxophonist and plays his own self-made instruments. Immediately recognisable
because of his unusual and colourful outfits, Mark plays guitar and sings backing vocals on most tracks and has been touring with Paul since the Paul/Bob tour.

The final word can go to the NZ Herald’s TimeOut reporter, as a perfect summation on what these amazing artists bring to Paul Simon’s live show. Clearly this is a show not to be missed!

“On a stage laden with a huge array of percussion instruments, multiple drum kits, horns, synths, and guitars, they seem gleeful in their musical freedom. But they still revel in those iconic
phrases that should never be changed - like the joyful guitar riff in Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes, or the bass solo in You Can Call Me Al.” – Lydia Jenkin, NZ Herald

Full review and interview: Paul Simon interview with Lydia Jenkin, NZ Herald TimeOut

PAUL SIMON
With RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

And special guest AARADHNA* (Dunedin only)


*Saturday 6 April, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Buy Tickets – www.ticketdirect.co.nz - ph 0800 224 224
Doors 5.30pm; Aaradhna 6.30pm; Rufus Wainwright 7.30pm;
PAUL SIMON 8.45pm

Monday 8 April, Vector Arena, Auckland
Buy Tickets – www.ticketmaster.co.nz - ph 0800 111 999

Doors 6.30pm; Rufus Wainwright 7.30pm;

PAUL SIMON 8.45pm

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