Duluth Dylan Fest Goes Virtual -- No Waiting in Lines!

When the start of Major League Baseball was pushed back, little did we know how many other dominoes would fall. The Summer Olympics, NCAA March Madness, Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival, Grandma's Marathon and -- sadly for many of us, Bob Dylan's Japan tour and U.S. tours all fell by the wayside. Some of our sorrows over that last item were alleviated, in part, with the release of several new songs and now a new double album of original material, Rough and Rowdy Ways. That's medicine I don't mind taking.

In a similar vein, as a result of this year’s global pandemic the Duluth Dylan Fest Committee has re-configured its plans for 2020, offering several virtual events in place of the usual in-person celebrations here in the Northland.

Here's what's on the docket now in lieu of the events that had been scheduled to run from May 16 through May 24, Bob’s 79th birthday. Local musicians slated for live stream performances include Marc Gartman, Cowboy Angel Blue, Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo. We will also air on YouTube the Bob Dylan Revue Concert from 2019 which took place last year at Sacred Heart Music Center. The Bob Dylan Revue Band, led by Mark Bennett, performed Bob Dylan Birthday Concerts throughout the 1990s to early 2000s.

To stay up to date, visit the Duluth Dylan Fest on Facebook.

DULUTH DYLAN FEST 2021 
Next year the Northland will be celebrating Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday. In anticipation, we’re desirous of making it The Year of Bob here in St. Louis County, where Bobby Zimmerman spent his youth. The dates for Duluth Dylan Fest 2021 have been finalized for May 22-30.

Virtual Duluth Dylan Fest Events

May 17--Cowboy Angel Blue Facebook Live

May 20--Virtual Dylan Fest Performance by Marc Gartman

May 23--Virtual Bob Dylan Revue Reunion Concert Revisited (YouTube)

May 24--Al Diesan, Streaming Live from Rome Italy
Noon-2:00 P.M. CST  Diesan, a Bob Dylan sounds-alike and performer will be streaming live from Rome.

Danny Fox Livestream Virtual Duluth Dylan Fest Event
5:00 p.m. CST--Two-time winner of the Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter contest will be streaming live from Chicago

Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo

7:30 p.m. CST--Bob Dylan Birthday Bash Livestream with Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo
According to Geno, the event "will be a lot of lesser heard Bob tracks, a smattering of stories from my experiences on the road with Bob & his gigs buddy Larry Kegan & a couple of our new originals. It will be big fun honoring the maestro on his 79th!"


IN A SEMI-RELATED EVENT:
May 22 there will be a Cookin' At the O Covid 19 Live Stream Benefit
Benefiting COVID-19 healthcare workers across our region, specifically the Min No Aya Win Clinic on the Fond Du Lac Reservation, Riverwood Hospital in Aitkin, St. Luke’s in Duluth, Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet.
How does this related to Dylan Fest? Bass player Billy Peterson, who recorded with Bob in Minneapolis (Blood on the Tracks), is in the mix. The jazz trio also includes Andrew Walesch, piano & vocals, & Glenn "Swanny" Swanson on drums.

Related Links
Rolling Like Thunder with Gene LaFond
Gene LaFond Shares Memories of Dylan
Jazz Fans Give a Standing O to Carlton Room Performers
Lives Touched and Energized: Dylan, Blood, Tracks, Metsa--Part 3