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Paul Simon Had A Quiet Celebration Of His Catalogue At Blossom

June 24, 2026

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and song writing icon, Paul Simon made a stop at Blossom Music Center on his A Quiet Celebration Tour.  

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In keeping with that theme, Simon let it be known that he did not want anyone taking photos or videos and asked fans to keep their phones in their pockets.  Most fans obliged, but some did not and were told to put them away.

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The concert was broken into two main sets.  The first on consisting of his latest album Seven Psalms.  The last two songs in this set featured his wife, Edie Brickell who duetted on "The Sacred Harp" and "Wait."

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The second set featured songs from throughout his illustrious career. It wasn't a greatest hits set, as Simon told the crowd before the show started that the second set would contain "some hits and songs that I've always wanted to play live."

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Yes there were some hits like "Slip Slidin' Away," "Homeward Bound" and "Graceland." But most of the second set was filled with deep cuts like "The Late Great Johnny Ace," "Under African Skies" and "Rewrite."

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It was a laid back set and most of the crowd seemed that it was unfamiliar with most of the tunes that were played.  Simon, who is 84 years old, has a voice that is thinning and isn't as strong as it once was.  However, he backed himself with an incredible band of musicians that really brought the songs to life.

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After playing "Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes," Simon and his band returned to encore with more popular songs which brought the crowd to life.  "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard" featured Edie Brickell coming back out to do the whistling solo.  "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" was spot on and the audience sang along with the chorus.

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"Something So Right" segued into "The Boxer" which had the crowd singing the "na, na na's" with the band.

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Then the band left the stage leaving Simon alone center stage with one white spotlight on him.  He then played the iconic intro to "The Sound of Silence" and you could have heard a pin drop.

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To hear that song, perhaps for the last time by the man who wrote it, gave me the chills.

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Even though it may not have been the perfect setlist, it was perfect for the man who created a lifetime of memories through his music. 

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Review by Greg Drugan

Photo credit: Jake Edwards

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