Paul Simon's Graceland: 40th Anniversary Celebration

A 40th anniversary tribute to Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland, performed at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow by the London African Gospel Choir. The album is performed by the choir, not by Paul Simon.

This evening marks forty years since Paul Simon released Graceland in 1986. The London African Gospel Choir takes the album as its programme, and the performance is a tribute rather than a appearance by Paul Simon. The choir had earlier performed the record in full at Camden's Jazz Café, commissioned after the album's 30th anniversary.

The choir is founded and directed by Crystal Kassi and is based in south-east London. Its members come from across the African diaspora, with families from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, the Congo, Ivory Coast, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Uganda among them. They were drawn from different churches, and what unites them is their faith, though the choir welcomes anyone who wants to join. Its repertoire includes secular songs with a positive message, and Graceland fits that approach through its hopeful lyrics and melodies rooted in South African music.

The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow hosts concerts and shows. The evening will appeal to listeners who know Graceland well and to those interested in the choir's gospel approach to secular material.