GRACELAND LIVE Starring YouTube Guitar Sensation Josh Turner Makes its World Premiere
By: Stephi Wild May. 30, 2019
Producers of the West End and global smash-hit show The Simon & Garfunkel Story today announce the world premiere of GRACELAND LIVE, a celebration of Paul Simon's multi-Grammy award winning album Graceland.
Thirty years after the release of this ground breaking album, featuring such unforgettable songs as You Can Call Me Al, Under African Skies and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, this incredible concert will recreate Graceland in full with painstaking attention to detail.
With New York-based musician and YouTube sensation Josh Turrner (whose own video of Graceland has been viewed 1.2 million times) as Paul Simon, the South African Cultural Choir UK recreating the fabulous Ladysmith Black Mambazo harmonies to perfection, and a live band.
A 15-date UK tour launches on Sunday 13 October at Leicester's De Montfort Hall, with more dates to be announced.
Press are invited to review the second date of the tour at
London's Shepherd's Bush Empire
Monday 14 October at 7.30pm (doors 6.30pm)
Josh started playing guitar at 13 when his PlayStation 2 was confiscated by his parents. In 2007 he began making YouTube videos, which have since garnered millions of views:
1.2 MILLION VIEWS: Graceland
8.3 MILLION VIEWS: Sultans of Swing
Ranging from popular to esoteric, local to far flung, and playful to serious, Josh's videos offer a little something for everyone. Josh also performs regularly with long-time collaborator, Carson McKee, as the folk duo The Other Favorites, and will tour the UK this August with dates in Leeds, Glasgow and London's Bush Hall. Josh's first full-length solo album, As Good A Place As Any, was released in April 2019.
The South African Cultural Gospel Choir UK
Formed from the most talented African artists and musicians based in the UK, The South African Cultural Gospel Choir UK aims to showcase African heritage, music and culture. Its choir of 20 singers has toured and performed all over UK and abroad, singing in different African languages, acapella, classical and traditional gospel songs with a seven-piece band as well as displaying energetic Zulu dancing.
Graceland
In 1984, Paul Simon became fascinated by a bootleg cassette of South African township music. He visited Johannesburg, and spent two weeks recording with South African musicians. The resulting album, Graceland was released in 1986 and became Paul Simon's most successful studio album and his highest-charting album in over a decade, selling 16 million copies worldwide.
Lauded by critics, it won the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and is frequently cited as one of the best albums of all time. Graceland also earned Simon the Best International Solo Artist award at the 1987 Brit Awards.
Maple Tree Entertainment - Producers
Headed by Dean Elliott, Maple Tree Entertainment Ltd is a theatrical production company that specialise in creating, presenting and producing high quality music, drama and musicals both in the UK and across the world. Maple Tree Entertainment's flagship show The Simon & Garfunkel Story has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people across the world and is still today the leading theatrical show concerning Simon & Garfunkel.
GRACELAND LIVE UK TOUR DATES October 2019
Sunday 13 Leicester
De Montfort Hall
Monday 14 London
Shepherd's Bush Empire
Thursday 17 Southend
Cliff's Pavilion
Friday 18 High Wycombe
Wycombe Swan
Saturday 19 Swansea
Grand Theatre
Monday 21 Liverpool
Philharmonic Hall
Tuesday 22 Glasgow
Royal Concert Hall
Saturday 26 Malvern
Festival Theatre
Sunday 27 Manchester
Opera House
Tuesday 29 Inverness
Eden Court Theatre
Thursday 31 Aberdeen
Music Hall
November 2019
Friday 1 Perth
Concert Hall
Saturday 2 Newcastle
City Hall
Sunday 3 Carlisle
Sands Centre
Monday 4 Edinburgh
Playhouse
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