Paul Simon Sets October 9 Release for ‘The Quiet Celebration Concert’ Live Album
Paul Simon is scheduled to release a new live album, ‘Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert,’ on October 9 through Owl Records and Legacy Recordings. The record documents performances from his recent Quiet Celebration tour and will roll out as a 3 LP vinyl set, a 2 CD set, and across digital and streaming services.
The album runs nearly two hours and opens with a full live performance of ‘Seven Psalms,’ the 33-minute continuous piece Simon originally released in 2023, which he composed and arranged with live presentation in mind. Its lead single, a rendition of ‘Under African Skies’ featuring a duet with his wife Edie Brickell, is already available to stream.
- Release date: October 9, via Owl Records and Legacy Recordings
- Formats: 3 LP vinyl, 2 CD, digital and streaming
- Recorded at McCaw Hall in Seattle near the close of the tour’s first U.S. leg
- Companion concert film ‘A Quiet Celebration’ debuted on Disney+ and Hulu on June 26, 2026
- The tour’s first U.S. leg spanned 58 dates
Where ‘The Quiet Celebration Concert’ Was Recorded
The live tracks were captured at McCaw Hall in Seattle as Simon wrapped the first U.S. leg of the Quiet Celebration tour. That leg totaled 58 shows and drew praise from outlets including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Rolling Stone, and the Los Angeles Times.
Paul Simon on Returning to the Stage
The Quiet Celebration marked Simon’s first extended tour since 2018, when he set out on what was billed as a farewell run, though he still made occasional live appearances in the years that followed. In between, he dealt with hearing loss and had to rework his approach to performing live.
Speaking in the accompanying film ‘A Quiet Celebration,’ which streamed on Disney+ and Hulu starting June 26, 2026, and was directed and executive produced by Joel Gallen, Simon reflected on what the return to touring meant to him: “It’s enabled me to play with musicians again. I really missed it. Everybody has enjoyed the experience so much, there’s been a feeling of camaraderie and elation that we were playing this piece of music that we were really interested in, and that had a significant effect on me. It made for one of the most extraordinary tours I’ve done, maybe the most joyous.”
Musicians and Production Credits on the Live Album
The recordings feature a band of longtime collaborators and guest players joining Simon: guitarist Mark Stewart, drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Bakithi Kumalo, saxophonist Andy Snitzer, keyboardist Mick Rossi, percussionist Jamey Haddad, guitarist Gyan Riley, flutist Nancy Stagnitta, violist Caleb Burhans, and cellist Eugene Friesen all lend their playing to the set, with Edie Brickell contributing vocals throughout.
Paul Simon produced the album himself, with recording and engineering by Biff Dawes and mixing handled by Kyle Crusham. The vinyl edition’s artwork comes from Geoff Gans, with photography by Jake Edwards, and the sleeve includes the complete lyrics to ‘Seven Psalms.’
‘Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert’ Track Listing
- Seven Psalms
- Graceland
- Slip Slidin’ Away
- Homeward Bound
- The Late Great Johnny Ace
- St. Judy’s Comet
- Under African Skies
- Rene & Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War
- Rewrite
- Spirit Voices
- The Cool, Cool River
- Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard
- Father & Daughter
- 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
- The Boxer
- The Sound of Silence
More Info
- Paul Simon to Release The Quiet Celebration Concert | Relix
- Paul Simon to Release ‘The Quiet Celebration Concert’ | jambands.com
- Paul Simon ‘The Quiet Celebration Concert’ Live CD/LP Oct. 9 | rockcellarmagazine.com
- Paul Simon announces two-hour live album | themusicuniverse.com
- Paul Simon to Release THE QUIET CELEBRATION CONCERT Live Album Oct. 9 | broadwayworld.com