Sting & Paul Simon on stage in Auckland next year

Sting & Paul Simon: On stage together

Vector Arenas, Auckland January 30

Sting & Paul Simon, two of music’s most renowned and enduring artists, will bring their critically-acclaimed On Stage Together tour to Australia and New Zealand in January next year.

The tour begins in New Zealand, with one concert in Auckland on January 30 before continuing a seven-date Australian tour.

As long-time friends, the concept for the “On Stage Together” tour originated at the Robin Hood Foundation benefit in 2013 where they performed together for the first time.

Both artists, who are known for exploring world rhythms, have pushed the boundaries of popular music and continue to speak to generations of fans.

The New Zealand concert will feature the two iconic singer/songwriters blending their voices and their bands while performing their best-known songs both together and apart in what has been one of the most highly-praised North American concert tours of 2014.

Gene Stout writing in the Seattle Times said “Paul Simon and Sting enthralled a capacity crowd at KeyArena in what Simon affectionately called “our little experiment.” “Blending their respective bands and repertoires into a powerful evening of rock ’n’ roll infused with world rhythms, Simon and Sting took turns performing separate sets as well as stirring duets of each other’s most beloved songs.

Concertgoers got the best of both worlds, enjoying such Simon hits as “The Boy in the Bubble” and “Mother and Child Reunion” and the Sting/Police classics “Message in a Bottle” and “Roxanne.”

The show included more than 30 songs.” “Backing Simon and Sting was a talented musical entourage capable of managing the complex arrangements of more than two dozen songs. Instruments included guitar, bass, keyboards, French horn, cello, harmonica, accordion, trumpet, saxophones and washboard.” “The pair’s beautiful duet on “Fragile” was followed by Sting on Simon and Garfunkel’s “America,” as well as impressive versions of Police classics Message in a Bottle and Roxanne.

The two musicians complemented each other beautifully on Boxer, from Simon and Garfunkel’s breakthrough 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. “In the evening’s only medley, Simon performed Hearts and Bones, as well as Jr. Parker’s Mystery Train and Chet Atkins’ Wheels.

He also offered The Obvious Child, “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes and a rocking You Can Call Me Al. Encores featured both singers on Late in the Evening, Every Breath You Take and Bridge Over Troubled Water. 

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, July 7 at 10am.