Paul McCartney performs at Africa Express show in London

Following a ceremony at the Élysée Palace in Paris, in which Sir Paul McCartney was given France’s highest public award, the Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), he took part in a show with the Africa Express collective.

From Paris to King's Cross for @africaexpress pic.twitter.com/wVB2uCYR

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) September 8, 2012

After leaving the Élysée Palace he took the Eurostar back to London’s St Pancras, and met Blur’s Damon Albarn in nearby Granary Square where the show took place.

Getting ready @africaexpress pic.twitter.com/A5Cl91qJ

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) September 8, 2012

McCartney first appeared onstage playing bass on Rokia Traore’s Dounia, with former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones on mandolin. He then performed two songs, one solo and one by Wings, joined by musicians from Africa, the UK and US.

It was the finale show in Damon Albarn’s tour with the collective. The Blur singer had spent the week touring the UK with a collective of 80 musicians in a specially chartered train. The tour stopped in Middlesborough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol before finishing with a five-hour show in London.

With @noisettes at Africa Express pic.twitter.com/y1nlbdaj

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) September 8, 2012

The musicians on the train had only been told the day before that “a very special guest” would be joining them in the English capital.

Goodnight Tonight at Africa Express pic.twitter.com/rJ2JNVhH

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) September 8, 2012

Those joining McCartney for performances of ‘Coming Up’ and ‘Goodnight Tonight’ included Albarn, drummer Tony Allen, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, and singers Rokia Traore, Terri Walker, Fatoumata Diawara, Martina Topley-Bird and Shinghai Shoniwa.