Paul Simon, now 84 years old, delivered a poignant performance at Toronto's RBC Amphitheatre on Thursday night, June 25, 2026, as part of his A Quiet Celebration Tour. Despite severe hearing loss that nearly ended his touring career, Simon's enduring songs and the support of his wife, Edie Brickell, kept the evening vibrant.
Simon's Resilience Shines Through Fragile Voice
Singing the Simon & Garfunkel classic The Boxer, Simon wryly declared, “I am leaving, I am leaving but the fighter still remains,” as the crowd joined in on the “Lie, la, Lie” chorus. According to reviewer Jane Stevenson, the moment underscored Simon's fighting spirit, even as his voice sounded more fragile than in years past. The tour, which began with a three-night stand at Massey Hall in May 2025, returned to Toronto for an open-air show at the amphitheatre.
Edie Brickell Adds Warmth to the Set
Brickell, 60, joined Simon and his 11-piece band during the first set for new songs The Sacred Harp and Wait, and later for Under African Skies and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, where she provided the whistling. Her presence added a layer of intimacy, with Stevenson noting that the Brickell-backed songs were among the evening's highlights.
Overcoming Hearing Loss with Innovative Stage Design
Simon has suffered severe hearing loss in his left ear, a condition that began during the recording of his 2023 conceptual work Seven Psalms. With help from the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss and his production team, he redesigned his stage setup, including moving monitors to surround him. However, the system worked better in the intimate Massey Hall than the open-air amphitheatre, according to the reviewer.
Set List Features Classics and New Material
The show opened with somber songs from Seven Psalms, each introduced by its title on a black video screen, creating a hushed, prayerful atmosphere. After a 20-minute intermission, Simon returned in a red jacket, jeans, and baseball cap, launching into Graceland with bassist Bakithi Kumalo, the last remaining band member from the original Graceland sessions. Crowd-pleasers included Homeward Bound, The Boxer, and the show-ending The Sound of Silence, performed solo on acoustic guitar. Other highlights were Rewrite, The Cool, Cool River, and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Standout guitarists Mark Stewart and Gyan Riley earned praise for their performances.
Performance Rating and Final Thoughts
Stevenson rated the concert three out of four stars, noting that while Simon's voice may be fragile, his songwriting and the band's talent remain formidable. The full set list included 20 songs, with encores featuring Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Something So Right, The Boxer, and The Sound of Silence.
