Paul Simon has canceled two shows, tonight and tomorrow, June 28-29, at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music. He announced the news via social media, just hours before Saturday’s concert.
“Regretfully, Paul Simon must cancel two shows tonight June 28 and tomorrow night June 29 – at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music,” reads a statement on his social media. “Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain. Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention.
“Unfortunately we have to cancel these shows at this time, as we don’t have the ability to reschedule them,” the statement continued. “However, we are hopeful after this minor surgical procedure, which has been scheduled in the next few days, Paul will be able to complete the tour as well as look into returning to make up these dates.”
The post directed those with tickets for the canceled shows to contact the point of purchase or local ticket provider to receive a full refund.
In addition to his back ailments, Simon has suffered another health issue in recent years. In 2023, Simon revealed he was suffering major hearing loss and has since worked on ways to adapt so that he can continue to make and perform music.
Simon has been in the midst of his A Quiet Celebration Tour, where he has been performing his 2023 LP, Seven Psalms, in its entirety, alongside classics from his massive catalog. Of his June 16 show at Beacon Theatre in New York City, which was his first full concert in New York since 2018, Rolling Stone’s review said, “Seven Psalms is a soft, acoustic work, and he recreated the chill vibe onstage with an ace band that included guitarists Mark Stewart, Gyan Riley, and Biodun Kuti, bassist Bakithi Kumalo, flute player Nancy Stagnita, and cellist Eugene Friesen.”
The tour is currently scheduled to resume at Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California on July 7, and is slated to run through Aug. 3.