Bob Dylan Shocks Fans By Playing Grand Piano at Summer Tour Kick-Off
Bob Dylan fans knew they were in for something special at England’s Hop Farm Festival on Saturday when roadies wheeled a grand piano onto the stage before the show. Over the past decade Dylan has played a keyboard (while standing) for much of his set, but at Saturday’s show he totally abandoned that instrument after opening the show with “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.” For eight of the show’s 16 songs he sat behind the grand piano; during the rest he stood in the center of the stage while singing and playing harmonica. If he sticks to this set-up, it will be the biggest change to the look and sound of his stage show in a decade.
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Check out this video of Dylan playing “Love Sick” at the grand piano from the show. Fast forward to 2:45 to hear him play an amazing, jazzy piano solo.
Dylan’s European tour wraps up July 22nd in Carhaix, France. His North American summer tour kicks off August 10th in Lloydminster, Alberta and runs through September 9th in Hershey, Pennsylvania. According to the usually reliable fan site Boblinks, Dylan may be touring the upper Midwest and East Coast in November with special guest Mark Knopfler. He is rumored to be releasing a new studio album around that time, though nothing has been announced.
Here is video of Dylan performing “Tangled Up in Blue” at Hop Farm on Saturday: