The First Eight
Inside Bob Dylan’s opening leg of the Outlaw Music Festival 2025
Dear friends,
The first stretch of Bob Dylan’s 2025 Outlaw Music Festival is in the books — eight shows, from Phoenix to Ridgefield (and one half-show in George), that offered more than just music. They gave us a glimpse into where Dylan is right now: still evolving, still refining, still full of surprises.
We followed every show, every setlist, every moment — and here’s what stood out.
Setlist Evolution
Across these eight performances, Bob offered a setlist that felt both focused and fluid — a blend of consistency and surprise.
The opener in Phoenix was particularly wild: 13 songs including Mr. Tambourine Man (his first since 2010!), covers like Route 66 and A Rainy Night in Soho, and a mysterious new title (Axe and the Wind) that had us fans buzzing.
But from Chula Vista onward, a more stable form took shape. Core songs like Simple Twist of Fate, Forgetful Heart, Early Roman Kings, and Desolation Row anchored each night. Gotta Serve Somebody replaced Things Have Changed as opener.
✨ Moments That Stood Out
The tour opener in Phoenix featured a unpredictable setlist — and included the first live performance of Mr. Tambourine Man since 2010. A moment of surprise and nostalgia all in one.
After night one, everyone was asking: What’s “Axe and the Wind”? Speculation swirled. Was it a new Dylan original? A rare cover? Turns out it was a Willie Dixon tune — but for a while, it felt like Dylan had dropped something brand new into the set.
Throughout the run, Dylan introduced a fresh, sharp arrangement of All Along the Watchtower — muscular, moody, and musically reimagined. It brought new energy to a song that’s followed him for decades.
In Chula Vista, Dylan closed the show with Garden Party by Ricky Nelson — a one-off encore with lyrics that felt pointed and personal:
“You can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself.”In Wheatland, ’Til I Fell in Love With You made a surprise return — for the first time in over a decade — with a rolling, blues-driven arrangement that fit the 2025 band perfectly.
In Spokane, fans were treated to something special: Billy Strings stepping in on guitar to replace Doug Lancio for Watchtower. A thrilling cross-generational moment that electrified the crowd.
In George, WA, the set was cut short due to strong winds and Bob and the band played only 7 songs!
✈️ Daily Dylan Hits the Road: LA + Wheatland
Sometimes you don’t plan these things — you just go.
I did a whirlwind weekend trip to catch Bob Dylan at the Hollywood Bowl and Wheatland shows.
It was a 72-hour sprint from Frankfurt to California and back, fueled by impulse, adrenaline, and maybe too much coffee.
We shared the full story here:
Click here to read!
Looking Ahead: Leg 2 Preview Coming Soon
This was just the beginning.
The second leg of the Outlaw Music Festival is around the corner, starting at June 20, 2025 in Clarkston, Michigan at the Pine Knob Music Theatre— and we’ll be sending out a full preview with setlist predictions, band news, and special features before the next show kicks off.
Stay tuned.