Bob Dylan is set to join Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival this summer, making appearances at all 25 shows during the annual touring event. The iconic musicians and longtime friends will be sharing the stage with Robert Plant & Alison Krauss for the first leg of the tour starting on June 21 in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Mellencamp will then join the second leg on July 29, with his debut Outlaw show scheduled for North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California.
One of the highlights of the tour will be the performance at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on July 31, where Mellencamp and singer Brittney Spencer will join Dylan and Nelson. Nelson previously graced the Bowl stage last summer for his 90th birthday celebration, where he was joined by a star-studded lineup including Neil Young, Beck, and Snoop Dogg, among others.
Known for its mix of progressive-country and Americana acts, Outlaw Music Festival will also feature performances by Celisse, Southern Avenue, and a special appearance by Billy Strings at the Gorge Amphitheatre outside Seattle on Aug. 10.
The festival will come to a close on Sept. 17 in Buffalo, New York, with tickets going on sale this Friday. Citi card members will have early access to presale tickets from Tuesday to Thursday through the Citi Entertainment program.
Willie Nelson expressed his excitement for this year’s festival lineup, calling it the biggest and best yet. Dylan, who will be joining the tour in its entirety for the first time, has previously only performed a few shows with the festival in 2017. The singer-songwriter is known for his timeless classics such as “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’”.
The Outlaw Music Festival made its debut in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2016 and has since grown into a popular touring event. Nelson, along with his manager Mark Rothbaum and promoter Blackbird Presents, have expanded the festival to various cities over the years, with the 2018 edition marking its first stop in Los Angeles. The festival has featured performances by a diverse range of artists, including Grateful Dead alum Phil Lesh, Sturgill Simpson, and Margo Price.
