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| Tour by Bob Dylan | |
 Tour poster, 2012 | |
| Start date | April 15, 2012 |
|---|---|
| End date | November 21, 2012 |
| Legs | 4 |
| No. of shows |
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| Bob Dylan concert chronology | |
The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988.[1][2][3]
Background
The 2012 leg of the Never Ending tour was announced via BobDylan.com on February 16, 2012. The first dates to be announced were concerts taking place in three South American Countries; Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Dylan previously visited these countries last time he toured South America on the Never Ending Tour 2008.[4] On March 15, 2012, after being rumored in the press, it was confirmed that Dylan would perform in Heredia, Costa Rica on May 5, 2012. This was Dylan's first concert in the country of Costa Rica and his first concert in Central America.[5] On March 28, 2012 it was confirmed that Dylan would return to Mexico, four years after his last performances there in 2008.[6]
It was confirmed on March 27, 2012 that Dylan would return to Kent in 2012 to headline the Hop Farm Festival. Dylan had previously headlined the festival in July 2010.[7] On March 29, 2012 Dylan's official website revealed several European concerts for the summer of 2012. These dates included official confirmation of his performances at Hop Farm Festival, Festival Internacional Benicàssim and Festival Vieilles Charrues Les Nuits de Fourvière. It was revealed that Dylan also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Dylan also performed in Salzburg, Austria and Nîmes, France.[8]
Dylan performed at eleven European concerts this summer including: his second performance at The Hop Farm Festival in Kent, the Citadel Music Festival in Berlin, Kunst!Rasen Gronau in Bonn, Lieder im Schloss in Bad Mergentheim, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain, Festival Jardins de Cap Roig in Calella, Festival de Nîmes in France, Collisioni 2012 in Barolo, Les Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon and the Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix.[9]
Rehearsals for Dylan's 2012 European tour began at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York on Monday June 25, 2012 and lasted until Wednesday June 27, 2012 where Dylan and his band flew to England for his performance at Hop Farm Festival on Saturday June 30, 2012. Among unknown tunes Dylan and his band performed "Things Have Changed", "Nettie Moore", "Tangled Up in Blue", "Blind Willie McTell" and "Ballad of Hollis Brown".[10] Dylan's performance at the Hop Farm Music Festival saw the introduction of a grand piano into his set, which he played for eight songs of his sixteen-song set.[11][12]
On June 15, 2012, Dylan's official website announced eleven concerts that are to take place in August and September 2012. These shows include three concerts in Canada, where Dylan hadn't performed since November 2009.[13] The following day a further two concerts were announced, one taking place in Billings, Montana[14] and the other taking place in Rochester, Minnesota.[15] On June 20 another two concerts were announced, one in Cincinnati[16] and the other in Salisbury, Maryland.[17] The tickets for Dylan's show in Cranbrook sold out in record time. The venue adjusted the position of the stage to add a further 250 tickets, which also sold out.[18] On June 28, 2012 a further six concerts were announced taking place in August and early September. The August 15 concert in Billings, Montana was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.[19]
The much anticipated North American leg of the Dylan/Knopfler tour was announced via both BobDylan.com and MarkKnopfler.com on July 18, 2012, just one day after Dylan announced his 35th studio album, Tempest.[20] The tour was met with a mixed to negative response. Many reviews complained about Dylan's decreasing vocal abilities and his lack of piano playing skills. As usual with Dylan reviews the press complained about Dylan's changing of song, beyond recognition sometimes. The tour's attendance was fairly poor with many reviews reporting fans leaving long before the concert was over.[21] In an unprecedented move during his November 5 concert in Madison, Wisconsin, Dylan addressed the crowd, besides his normal band introduction and said: "We tried to play good tonight since the president was here today. Don't believe the media. I think it's going to be a landslide"[22]
Performing only 86 concerts in 2012, Dylan performed the fewest shows during a year-long leg of the Never Ending Tour since 1996.[23][24]
Supporting acts
- Chicago Blues: A Living History — July 8, 2012
- Garbage — July 22, 2012
- Gossip — July 22, 2012
- Leon Russell — August 26, 2012
- The McCrary Sisters — August 26, 2012, The McCrary Sisters provided backing vocals on Blowin' in the Wind at this event
- Ben Harper — September 2, 2012
- Bob Weir — September 9, 2012
- Mark Knopfler — October 5 – November 21, 2012
Tour dates
- Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
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- Cancellations and rescheduled shows
| April 30, 2012 | Santiago, Chile | Movistar Arena | Rescheduled to May 2, 2012.[41] |
| August 15, 2012 | Billings, Montana | Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark | Cancelled due to poor ticket sales.[42] |
| November 10, 2012 | Chicago metropolitan area | Unconfirmed venue | Cancelled before official announcement.[43] |
| November 13, 2012 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | The Palace of Auburn Hills | Moved to the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan due to poor ticket sales.[44] |