The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. The 2013 tour marked the Never Ending Tour's 25th anniversary.
Background On December 3, 2012, it was stated in Isis Magazine that Dylan will be touring Asia in the Spring of 2013 with negotiations for venues being finalised. It is rumoured that the tour has been moved to the summer of 2013 alongside dates in Australia including an appearance at the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay, New South Wales and a concert at the Sydney Opera House. However, on February 25, 2013, one concert in California, Pennsylvania was leaked at Ticketmaster.
Thirteen dates for the first leg, in North America, were announced at Dylan's official website on February 27, 2013, beginning on April 5 in Buffalo, New York and currently ending in Saint Augustine, Florida on May. More concerts in the South Eastern States were added a week later.
A summer tour of the US was announced in April 2013 called the Americanarama Festival of Music. The tour comprises 26 shows beginning on June 26 in West Palm Beach, Florida and ending on August 4 in Mountain View, California.
Dylan's official website announced a European tour taking place between October and November on June 13, 2013. The tour included nine concerts in the UK, three concerts each in Glasgow, Blackpool and London. The London concerts took place at the Royal Albert Hall, where Dylan hadn't performed since May 27, 1966.
Reception The first leg of the tour was met with a very good reception by fans and critics alike. In Akron, Ohio one critic claimed "The performance enthralled the capacity crowd." In Ithaca Zachary Zahos said "Seeing him move about, listening to what he's doing and witnessing how he continues to make himself relevant at 71 years young – How's that for inspiration." In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania "Bob Dylan didn't utter a single word to the audience; he knew the music would tell them everything they needed to know." And in California, Pennsylvania "Bob Dylan played with renewed vigour and the centerpiece was a jangly and textured version of 'Visions of Johanna' that was a slice of heaven."
Opening acts Dawes: Spring 2013 (except April 27 & 28) The Wild Feathers: April 27 & 28 2013 Bob Weir: June 26 – 30 Wilco: June 26 – August 4 My Morning Jacket: June 26 – August 4 (except July 27) Richard Thompson Electric Trio: July 2 – July 15 Ryan Bingham: July 18 – August 4 Garth Hudson (with Wilco): July 21 Beck: July 27
Set list This set list is representative of the performance on November 28, 2013, in London, England. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.
"Things Have Changed" "She Belongs to Me" "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" "What Good Am I?" "Duquesne Whistle" "Waiting for You" "Pay in Blood" "Tangled Up in Blue" "Love Sick"
"High Water (For Charley Patton)" "Simple Twist of Fate" "Early Roman Kings" "Forgetful Heart" "Spirit on the Water" "Scarlet Town" "Soon After Midnight" "Long and Wasted Years"
"All Along the Watchtower" "Blowin' in the Wind"
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceBox OfficeNorth AmericaApril 5, 2013BuffaloUnited StatesSUNY Alumni Arena — —April 6, 2013AmherstWilliam D. Mullins Memorial Center — —April 8, 2013KingstonThomas M. Ryan Center — —April 9, 2013LowellPaul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell — —April 10, 2013LewistonAndroscoggin Bank Colisée — —April 12, 2013NewarkBob Carpenter Center — —April 13, 2013CaliforniaCUP Convocation Center — —April 14, 2013IthacaBarton Hall — —April 16, 2013RichmondLandmark Theater3,461 / 3,478$170,875April 18, 2013BethlehemStabler Arena — —April 19, 2013AkronE. J. Thomas Hall — —April 20, 2013KalamazooWings Stadium — —April 21, 2013Bowling GreenStroh Center — —April 23, 2013St. LouisPeabody Opera House — —April 24, 2013SpringfieldJQH Arena — —April 25, 2013ChampaignChampaign Assembly Hall — —April 27, 2013MurrayCFSB Center — —April 28, 2013LouisvilleThe Louisville Palace2,183 / 2,573$127,808April 30, 2013AshevilleU.S. Cellular Center — —May 1, 2013CharlotteTime Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre2,447 / 2,447$180,364May 2, 2013RaleighRed Hat Amphitheater — —May 4, 2013CharlestonFamily Circle Magazine Stadium4,061 / 6,468$154,348May 5, 2013Saint AugustineSt. Augustine Amphitheatre — —Americanarama Festival of MusicJune 26, 2013West Palm BeachUnited StatesCruzan Amphitheatre — —June 27, 2013TampaMidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre — —June 29, 2013AtlantaAaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood — —June 30, 2013NashvilleThe Lawn at Riverfront Park — —July 2, 2013MemphisAutoZone Park — —July 3, 2013TuscaloosaTuscaloosa Amphitheater3,050 / 7,052$193,605July 5, 2013NoblesvilleKlipsch Music Center — —July 6, 2013CincinnatiRiverbend Music Center — —July 9, 2013DuluthBayfront Park5,733 / 8,000$386,978July 10, 2013Saint PaulMidway Stadium14,223 / 14,223$960,053July 11, 2013PeoriaPeoria Civic Center — —July 12, 2013BridgeviewToyota Park11,075 / 13,068$689,308July 14, 2013ClarkstonDTE Energy Music Theatre — —July 15, 2013TorontoCanadaMolson Canadian Amphitheatre — —July 18, 2013CorfuUnited StatesDarien Lake Performing Arts Center — —July 19, 2013BridgeportWebster Bank Arena — —July 20, 2013MansfieldComcast Center — —July 21, 2013Saratoga SpringsSaratoga Performing Arts Center — —July 23, 2013ColumbiaMerriweather Post Pavilion — —July 24, 2013Virginia BeachFarm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach — —July 26, 2013HobokenPier A Park13,553 / 14,530$990,116July 27, 2013WantaghNikon at Jones Beach Theater — —July 28, 2013CamdenSusquehanna Bank Center — —July 31, 2013Greenwood VillageComfort Dental Amphitheatre — —August 1, 2013West Valley CityUSANA Amphitheatre — —August 3, 2013IrvineVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre — —August 4, 2013Mountain ViewShoreline Amphitheatre — —EuropeOctober 10, 2013OsloNorwayOslo Spektrum — —October 12, 2013StockholmSwedenWaterfront Congress Centre — —October 13, 2013October 15, 2013CopenhagenDenmarkFalconer Salen — —October 16, 2013October 18, 2013HanoverGermanySwiss Life Hall — —October 19, 2013HamburgCongress Center Hamburg — —October 20, 2013October 22, 2013DüsseldorfMitsubishi Electric Halle — —October 24, 2013BerlinTempodrom — —October 25, 2013October 26, 2013October 28, 2013GenevaSwitzerlandSEG Geneva Arena — —October 30, 2013AmsterdamNetherlandsHeineken Music Hall — —October 31, 2013November 2, 2013MilanItalyTeatro degli Arcimboldi — —November 3, 2013November 4, 2013November 6, 2013RomeAtlántico Live — —November 7, 2013November 8, 2013PaduaGran Teatro Geox — —November 10, 2013BrusselsBelgiumForest National6,755 / 8,399$584,514November 12, 2013ParisFranceLe Grand Rex — —November 13, 2013November 14, 2013November 16, 2013Esch-sur-AlzetteLuxembourgRockhal — —November 18, 2013GlasgowScotlandClyde Auditorium — —November 19, 2013November 20, 2013November 22, 2013BlackpoolEnglandOpera House Theatre, Blackpool — —November 23, 2013November 24, 2013November 26, 2013LondonRoyal Albert Hall — —November 27, 2013November 28, 2013TOTAL66,541 / 80,238 (83%)$4,437,969
Cancellations and rescheduled shows July 7, 2013Columbus, OhioNationwide ArenaCancelled due to poor ticket sales.July 11, 2013Peoria, IllinoisChiefs StadiumMoved to Peoria Civic Center.July 19, 2013Bridgeport, ConnecticutThe Ballpark at Harbor YardMoved to Webster Bank Arena.November 8, 2013FlorenceTeatro Comunale FlorenceMoved to Gran Teatro Geox in Padua.
Personnel Bob Dylan — Piano, Harmonica, Vocals Tony Garnier — Bass guitar Stu Kimball — Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar George G. Receli — Drums, Percussion Duke Robillard — Lead guitar (April 5 – June 30) Charlie Sexton — Lead guitar (July 2–14, 26 & 27, 31, October 10 – present) Colin Linden — Lead guitar (July 15–24, 28, August 1–4)
References
External links BobLinks – Comprehensive log of concerts and set lists BobDylan.com – Bob Dylan's Official Website Tour Page Bjorner's Still on the Road – Information on recording sessions and performances