25 years after the release of Paul Simon’s classic Graceland album he returned to headline the Sunday night of Hard Rock Calling and play the album in its entirety.

At the time of its release he was accused of breaking UN cultural boycott of Apartheid in South Africa, with controversy also surrounding other artists performing at South Africa’s Sun City complex.

Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo who featured on the album however thought he was helping them to find a new audience and promote their style of music.

The event closed the Sunday night with Paul Simon giving the 60,000 strong audience a 3 hour set finishing before the ‘curfew’.

With this event it brought back the memory of the album to older fans and a new audience alike seeing the album’s happy return to the top 40 charts.

Paul Simon now 70 still has a strong voice and treated us to a magical evening.

The atmosphere felt unbelievably still and tranquil with a mixed group of young and original fans mingling together. His set also included some songs from his solo career along with some Simon and Garfunkel classic’s.

The set kicked off with “Kodacrome” followed by dazzling “Blue” and “Gone At Last” from his most recent work. Followed up with “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” which started one of many sing alongs in the crowd.

Jimmy Cliff was his first guest being introduced onto the stage who performed “The Harder They Come”, “Vietnam” and “Many Rivers To Cross”, reminding us we still have a long way to go to achieve true equality.

Finishing with “Mother and Child Reunion” Jimmy Cliff continues to be a faultless performer and all round professional artist.

Paul Simon returned to perform more of his classics before introducing Ladysmith Black Mambazo on stage to show off their harmonies and dancing skills alike. Paul Simon’s band was then replaced by the original South African musicians who appeared on the original Graceland album. The album tracks followed hit after hit finishing before it seemed to have began.

It was emotional for different reasons, none more so than his solo performance of “The Sound of Silence”. A stand out moment of the evening for many armed only with his guitar.

The evening closed with “The Boxer”, “Late in The Evening” and “Still Crazy After All These Years”.

The night was a chance for the younger audience who were brought up on his music to hear pure magical lyrics and timeless melodies. Hopefully making them inquisitive to listen to more World Music and more South African artist’s and expand their world music genres on their iPods. That is after all what Paul Simon wanted to share with the world.