Paul Simon - Live at Hyde Park Review

The Hard Rock Calling weekend at Hyde Park featured an eclectic line-up, with Iggy and the Stooges, Soundgarden, Bruce Springsteen Alison Krauss, John Fogerty and Black Stone Cherry all playing. The legendary Paul Simon took to the stage on the Sunday night as the final headliner for Hard Rock Calling. Simon opened with the classic track Kodachrome and, a few tracks in, he was joined on stage by reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. Together they played Cliff's most famous tracks - The Harder They Come and Many Rivers to Cross. The lively reggae track Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard sparked a mass of dancing. The second half of his set saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo join Simon, they performed several songs a capella before singing my favourite track on the album Graceland - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes. It was great to hear that song being played just as the sun went down behind the trees. Simon introduced each member of the band, they were the musicians that actually performed on the album Graceland exactly 25 years ago this year. You Can Call Me Al is a highlight of the night, the brass part being bellowed by about 30,000 people - quite an experience. Paul Simon's encores started with The Sound of Silence; it was an incredible moment as he played the song alone with his acoustic guitar. Simon and Garfunkel's The Boxer was another highlight, with thousands of people in the crows singing along to the rousing chorus. Another personal highlight was Late in the Evening, it's got such a great party feel to it, which really suited the hot summer night.