Though his “Never-Ending Tour” isn’t ending, Bob Dylan’s planned 2020 U.S. tour has been canceled, a victim of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The May 12 announcement stated: “In the interest of public health and safety and after many attempts to try and reschedule these shows for a workable timeframe this year, it is with deep regret that we announce the US Bob Dylan shows originally scheduled for June/July are cancelled. We hope to be back out on the road at the earliest possible time once we are confident that it is safe for both fans and concert staff.”
On May 8, Dylan announced a new studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, scheduled to arrive June 18. The news came several weeks after Dylan had released two surprise songs this spring.
On Mar. 13, his tour of Japan was canceled. At that time, the promoter, UDO Artists, made this statement: “Given the situation of the widespread Coronavirus, our Prime Minister has requested that we cancel or postpone all forthcoming concerts or events in late March and beyond. We are so sorry to cancel the shows, but in the interest of Public Health and Safety, we are left with no alternative. Therefore we have regrettably decided to cancel the upcoming Bob Dylan concerts here in Japan scheduled April 1 – April 24. We will look to rebook the shows in the future.”
The 14 performances were to take place in Tokyo and Osaka.
Related: Live Nation, AEG pausing all U.S. concerts
On Mar. 9, Dylan’s website revealed 24 U.S. dates for June and July, mostly in amphitheaters, with Americana band, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, starting on the west coast and concluding in the northeast.
In recent weeks, most tours of have been postponed or cancelled altogether.
Dylan’s last concert was Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C., following a 10-show residency at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, part of a lengthy fall 2019 U.S. tour. When Dylan does tour, tickets are available here.
The last leg of his previous 2019 tour took place entirely in Europe, starting in Germany in March and ending in July Ireland. The last two dates of that run included a pair of shows with co-headliner Neil Young. At London’s Hyde Park, the Bard’s 19-song set included such career favorites as “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Ballad of a Thin Man.”
Related: Read our recap of Dylan and Neil Young’s joint appearance in Kilkenny, Ireland, here.
Watch Dylan perform “Ballad of a Thin Man” in October 2019
Rateliff and the band have toured extensively worldwide, and have become favorites of fellow musicians, playing major festivals such as Farm Aid and selling out iconic venues including their hometown Red Rocks Amphitheater multiple times.
Watch them perform at Farm Aid 2019
The newest entry in Columbia/Legacy’s continuing Dylan “Bootleg Series” of archival recordings, Travelin’ Thru, was released last Nov. 1.
The latest chapter revisits his sessions in Nashville, from 1967 to 1969, focusing on previously unavailable recordings made with Johnny Cash and unreleased tracks from the John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait sessions.
Bob Dylan 2020 Tour Dates – Canceled
Apr 1-2 – Tokyo, Japan – Zepp DiverCity
Apr 4-5-6 – Tokyo, Japan – Zepp DiverCity
Apr 8-9-10 – Osaka, Japan – Zepp Namba
Apr 14-15 – Tokyo, Japan – Zepp Tokyo
Apr 17 – Tokyo, Japan – Zepp DiverCity
Apr 19-20-21 – Tokyo, Japan – Zepp DiverCity
Bob Dylan with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Dates
Jun 04 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheatre
Jun 06 – Ridgefield, WA – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
Jun 07 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Jun 09 – Eugene, OR – Matthew Knight Arena
Jun 12 – Stateline, NV – Harveys Outdoor Amphitheatre
Jun 13 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
Jun 14 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
Jun 17 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Jun 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Jun 20 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center
Jun 21 – Glendale, AZ – Gila River Arena
Jun 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Tingley Arena
Jun 24 – Amarillo, TX – Amarillo Civic Center
Jun 26 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion & Toyota Music Factory
Jun 27 – Little Rock, Ark. – Simmons Bank Arena
Jun 28 – Southaven, MS – Brandon Amphitheatre
Jul 02 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Jul 03 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Jul 05 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
Jul 07 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena
Jul 08 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
Jul 09 – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC
Jul 11 – Essex Junction, VT – Champlain Valley Exposition
Jul 12 – Bethel Woods, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
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