Bob Dylan will perform one show at Ramat Gan Stadium on June 20, promoter Marcel
Avraham announced Wednesday.
Seating for the show will be similar to the
recent Leonard Cohen and Elton John shows, with assigned seats on the grass and
in the stands. The date that tickets are scheduled to go on sale will be
announced soon, according to a press release.
The legendary 69-year-old
songwriter and performer (who will be 70 by the time he arrives for the show)
has been rumored to be coming to Israel many times in recent years, but this is
the first time a show has been confirmed since his last appearance in 1993. It
will be sandwiched between concerts in England and Italy.
Born Robert
Zimmerman, Dylan is considered to be one of the most influential musical artists
of the modern era alongside Elvis Presley and The Beatles. From topical
folksinger and sunglassed rocker to Christian evangelist and his current guise
of roadhouse bluesman, he has made a point of not standing still
musically.
Longtime fans hoping to hear faithful renditions of his vast
back catalogue of classic tunes, ala Elton John, will likely be disappointed
with Dylan’s gruff vocals and the rootsy shuffles he performs with his crackling
roadhouse band. But the chance to see a living legend who’s still making any
kind of music should make up for it.