Bob Dylan attendees were full of praise for the veteran songwriter, who managed to perform despite the weather warnings at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. Dylan has been touring across North America on his Long Hot Summer tour and is set to perform 30 shows across Europe later this year.
Fans of the legendary performer were full of praise for the Forest Hills performance, where Dylan delivered songs from Oh Mercy, Time Out of Mind, and Rough and Rowdy Ways. The show closer, I Shall Be Released, was hailed as one of the best renditions to date by attendees. Dylan added the song to his setlist earlier on the tour for the first time in nearly 20 years. Weather warnings in the area presented the possibility of Dylan’s show being rained off, but this did not come to pass.
A full setlist for Dylan’s show at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens can be found below.
- To Be Alone With You
- Man in the Long Black Coat
- It Ain’t Me, Babe
- False Prophet
- I Can Tell (Bo Diddley cover)
- Black Rider
- Share Your Love With Me (Bobby Bland cover)
- When I Paint My Masterpiece
- I’ll Make It All Up to You (Jerry Lee Lewis cover)
- Crossing the Rubicon
- Soon After Midnight
- Under the Red Sky
- I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You
- Goodbye Jimmy Reed
- I Shall Be Released
The performance of I Shall Be Released was hailed by attendees, with one taking to the Bob Dylan subreddit and sharing their love of this rendition. They wrote: “Our little stormtrooper. I Shall Be Released was phenomenal. Weather held out and the crowd loved it. Hope the tape sounds good.”
Another added: “He was amazing. I love the new guitarists. Added so much energy to the show.” A third wrote: “It really turned into a nice evening by the time he took the stage. I thought he sounded great and the new guitarists really got some chances to shine. I thought Black Rider sounded especially good – the crowd was really rapt – and the harp solo in Under the Red Sky was beautiful. He ended with I Shall Be Released, which made me happy because that’s one I haven’t heard live (although I do love Every Grain of Sand, too).”
A separate thread on the subreddit had fans hail the arrangement of Crossing the Rubicon and note Dylan’s jubilant mood for the Forest Hills show. A fan wrote: “Loving the arrangement of Crossing the Rubicon this year. People were refreshingly orderly leaving the stadium too. Luck was on our side today.”
Another added: “Glad I decided to go. Barely a spot of rain and Bob was in the mood. Closed with I Shall Be Released.” It comes as Dylan confirmed details of a 30-date European tour, which will feature his first performances at the Royal Festival Hall since 1964. A full list of tour dates can be found below. Tickets for all shows go on sale July 22.
- October 17 – Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
- October 19 – Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
- October 21 – Forum Horsens, Denmark
- October 23 – GP Joule Arena, Flensburg, Germany
- October 25 – OVB Arena, Bremen, Germany
- October 27 – Mitsubishi Electric Hall, Dusseldorf, Germany
- October 29 – Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
- October 30 – Rockhal, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- November 1 – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
- November 2 – Unipol Dome, Milan, Italy
- November 5 – Palazzo dello Sport, Rome, Italy
- November 7 – Unipol Arena, Bologna, Italy
- November 9 – Arena Stozice, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- November 11 – Wiener Stadthalle, Halle D, Vienna, Austria
- November 12 – Wiener Stadthalle, Halle D, Vienna, Austria
- November 14 – Salzburg Arena, Austria
- November 15 – Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
- November 17 – Sick Arena, Freiburg, Germany
- November 20 – Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany
- November 22 – Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
- November 25 – BIC Windsor Hall, Bournemouth
- November 26 – bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
- November 27 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
- November 30 – Opera House, Blackpool
- December 1 – Opera House, Blackpool
- December 3 – Royal Festival Hall, London
- December 4 – Royal Festival Hall, London
- December 5 – Royal Festival Hall, London
- December 7 – Royal Festival Hall, London
- December 8 – Royal Festival Hall, London
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