Simon & Garfunkel

What was called an early Valentine’s gift for New York fans, today became a love letter penned exclusively for Australia and New Zealand.

What was called an early Valentine’s gift for New York fans, today became a love letter penned exclusively for Australia and New Zealand.

Simon & Garfunkel, ranked among the greatest artists of all time, are to tour the Antipodes for eight concerts in June promoter Michael Chugg, Executive Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, announced today.    

The world’s first and only confirmed 2009 tour dates for the beloved duo; the news comes just weeks after their surprise three-song performance at New York’s Beacon Theatre on Valentine’s eve.  

Having not visited Australia for more than 25 years, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel will kick off their antipodean tour in New Zealand playing Auckland’s Vector Arena on Saturday June 13.

Across the Tasman, the prodigious-pair start their Australian Tour at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on June 17 before two concerts at both Sydney’s Acer Arena on June 20 and 21 and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, June 25 and 26.  They will play the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on June 30 before finishing at Perth’s Burswood Dome on July 2.

For all shows, a special Visa Entertainment pre-sale starts at 12 noon local time on Monday 6th April and runs until 5pm Wednesday 8th April; Australian tickets go on sale to the general public via Ticketek on Friday 17th April, with New Zealand tickets on sale the same day through Ticketmaster.

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel last toured Australia and New Zealand in 1983 with their Summer Evening Tour. They return with their Old Friends In Concert Tour, which wowed US and European audiences in 2004, the last time the twosome teamed up.

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have been friends, but more like family, for more than 50 years.  

For the six years from 1964 to 1970 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel changed the world’s musical landscape.  They made songs that when you hear them are time immortal.  They painted an essential soundscape to an era with stroke after stroke of genius, including The Sound of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Mrs. Robinson, Homeward Bound, Scarborough Fair/Canticle, I Am a Rock, A Hazy Shade of Winter, and America to name just some in example of their virtuosity.

As a duo, Simon & Garfunkel have sold more than 40 million albums in the U.S. alone; received five Grammy Awards – including the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award – and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

“We’re the first and only territory in the world that Simon and Garfunkel have confirmed concerts for,” said Michael Chugg.  

“It’s been 25 years since they’ve been here and I’d put money on the table this will likely be the last time for us with these two legends together.  

“This is probably a twice in a lifetime chance, but the last time you’ll get to take it I’d say.

And finally, to the words of one reviewer who saw them last month at the Beacon, “…the two of them proceed to do something no one else in the world can do.  It’s magic.”

The artistry and intelligence of Simon and Garfunkel in concert is not to be missed.

Tickets for all Australian shows go on sale 9am, Friday 17 April through www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Tickets for New Zealand go on sale 9am, Friday 17 April through www.ticketmaster.co.nz or (09) 970 9700.

The first pre-sale, for Visa cardholders, starts at 12noon local time on Monday 6th April. Go to www.visaentertainment.com.au for Australia, and www.visaentertainment.co.nz  for New Zealand for more information.\

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL – AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR INFORMATION

Saturday 13 June     Vector Arena   Auckland, NZ
Wednesday 17 June     Entertainment Centre   Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 20 June     Acer Arena   Sydney, NSW
Sunday 21 June        Acer Arena   Sydney, NSW  
Thursday 25 June    Rod Laver Arena   Melbourne, VIC
Friday 26 June         Rod Laver Arena   Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday 30 June     Entertainment Centre   Adelaide, SA
Thursday 2 July     Burswood Dome   Perth, WA