Concert News

Paul Simon goes from SNL to Dallas with rare in-person concert

Paul Simon will give a rare performance in Dallas in May.

Photo courtesy of Paul Simon

Legendary singer Paul Simon, fresh off his appearance opening the 50th anniversary celebration for Saturday Night Live, will perform two special concerts - dubbed "A Quiet Celebration" - in Dallas, at Winspear Opera House on May 7 and 8.

The legendary singer/songwriter will present the live debut of his 2023 Grammy-nominated album Seven Psalms, alongside a celebration of his timeless classics.

Dallas is one of nine cities Simon will travel to on a mini-tour taking place in April and May. He will also perform three shows in Austin, April 8-11.

The concerts are an extremely rare opportunity to see the 83-year-old singer perform live, who said he was retiring from touring in 2018.

Simon first came to fame as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, which released five albums between 1964 and 1970, as well as performing the iconic soundtrack for the 1967 movie The Graduate. Since going solo in 1972, Simon has released 14 more albums of his own, most recently Seven Psalms in 2023.

He is one of the few artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He has also won 16 Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year.

Simon has been a fixture on Saturday Night Live since it started in 1975, hosting the show four times and serving as a musical guest 13 times. The anniversary show, which aired on February 16, opened with a performance of "Homeward Bound" that Simon did alongside singer Sabrina Carpenter.

Simon has strong Texas ties: He's been married to fellow singer and Dallas native Edie Brickell since 1992. The couple currently lives in Wimberley, Texas, outside of Austin.

Ticket sales for the concerts will start with presales for AT&T Performing Arts Center Center Circle and Corporate Circle members on Thursday, February 20, as well as an AEG Presale (presale code required).

The general on-sale starts on Friday, February 21 at 10 am at attpac.org.

Paul Simon "A Quiet Celebration" Tour Dates

April 4 & 5: Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA
April 8, 10, and 11: Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
April 14, 16, and 17: Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
April 20, 22, and 23: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
April 26: Midland Theatre, Kansas City, MO
April 28 & 29: Stifel Theatre, St. Louis, MO
May 7 & 8: Winspear Opera House, Dallas, TX
May 11, 13, and 14: The Ryman, Nashville, TN
May 17 & 18: Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

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RIP Joe

Texas country music singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer, and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

According to a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon, and daughter Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings."

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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