It was the night that rattled the bones of the folk institution.
On July 25 1965, Bob Dylan, the prophetic, poetic, folk messiah to many, took the stage at Newport and changed the history of music in just a 20-minute set.
Gone was the acoustic guitar, as Dylan walked out with a Fender Stratocaster and a fully electric band, comprised of members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Dylan launched into a piercing rendition of Maggie’s Farm, followed by Like a Rolling Stone. The crowd were like an alphabet soup, a swirl of letters, nobody quite knowing what words to form to express their confusion.
Meanwhile, Dylan roared into an early version of It Takes a lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry, Phantom Engineer.
Some cheered as thunderously as the music itself, others booed, others resigned to their bewilderment.
Dylan played just three electric songs before walking off. Moments later, he returned to the stage with an acoustic guitar, performing Mr. Tambourine Man and closing with a stunning It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.
Sixty years on, the performance remains as one of the most important and controversial in music history.
He/Him
Arts Editor 24/25
Press email: arts@brignews.com
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
- Ben Macswan
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