Winning an Audience Award after its premiere at SXSW this weekend was a new documentary on Paul Simon’s Graceland.
Under African Skies follows Simon back to South Africa 25 years after he first recorded there for a reunion with the local musicians. It tells the story of the political controversy surrounding a collaboration that ultimately broke cultural boundaries.
The album Graceland will be performed in its entirety this summer at Hyde Park in London, on July 15th at Hard Rock Calling. The original South African male choir that appeared on the record, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, will contribute.
A 25th anniversary box set edition of Graceland will be released soon (date TBA) along with the film, which features interviews with Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne and Quincy Jones.
Peter Gabriel:
Prior to Graceland, the music of South Africa was largely unknown outside the country, except to a small minority of world music fans.
Watch the trailer here:
