MARFA – “Come gather ‘round people, wherever you roam,” for Marfa Live Arts’ Bob Dylan Birthday Jam is this Saturday, May 24, at Coyote Coffee from 6 to 9pm.
The event, which celebrates the musical icon’s 70-year career, will see local and traveling musicians take on some of Dylan’s most legendary songs.
Dylan, who rose to prominence in 1962 with his eponymous debut album, will turn 84 on Saturday. Along with his self-named debut, Dylan has released 40 studio albums, 21 live albums, the 17-volume The Bootleg Series, and 44 compilation albums as well as various EPs, singles, and soundtracks.
According to event producer and Marfa-based musician Mia Valentini, spaces are still available, though quickly filling up. “Musician sign-up has really gained momentum,” she said. “But while pre-sign-up is encouraged and guarantees you a spot, if you are on the fence you can always chance it and sign up day-of.” Those who have signed up, she added, also include several “Bob groups” that will feature local musicians switching up instruments throughout the evening. Among those that will be performing is Tim Johnson, who is a “ridiculously big fan” of Dylan’s and has participated in other Bob Dylan Birthday Jams organized by Marfa Live Arts director Jennie Lyn Hamilton.
The first of the Dylan open mic nights, he said, took place in the old shade pavilion where the Saint George Hall currently sits in 2011, with the other celebrations taking place at Padre’s, The Lumberyard and under the USO’s outdoor structure. As for his love of Dylan, Johnson cites him as a marker of American music in general. “I consider his discography as kind of a junction where all these different lines of music history converge,” he said. “Celebrating Dylan, for me, is akin to celebrating the whole history of intermingling strands of American music.”
Also performing this Saturday, and making her Dylan Birthday Jam debut performance, is Zoe Kurland, a Marfa-based journalist and singer who regularly performs with The Grand Tourists. For Kurland, Dylan’s unique style and genre-defying work drew her to participating in the event. “Dylan songs are just so good! It’s exciting to get together and play something that seems so simple, but is, in actuality, incredibly nuanced,” she explained, adding that the recent release of the Timothée Chalamet biopic, A Complete Unknown, brought Dylan’s music back into her world. “I am ashamed to admit that after all of the Chalamet/Dylan hype this year, I was reminded of how great Dylan songs are. I’ve already been getting back into regular listening, so this was fun timing.”
For Kurland, the prospect of seeing musicians of all stripes performing Dylan tunes is also an exciting prospect. “I’m really looking forward to the other interpretations of Dylan,” she said. “This is an exciting opportunity genre-wise for a town that does a lot of straight country.”
Though sign-up for performances has been on the rise, Valentini added, the event is still looking for volunteers. “We are still looking for additional volunteer sign-ups, and people can always pitch in on the day-of or at the event,” she said, adding that, though the event is the same day of the D.U.S.T. show in Lobo, there’s plenty of time to do both. “Stop at Bob on your way to or from Lobo. Dylan lookalikes are also more than welcome!” Along with a Dylan-inspired cake provided by Bitter Sugar, Valentini said there will also be popsicles for sale to help beat the heat.
For more information on the Bob Dylan Birthday Jam and other Marfa Live Arts programs, please visit www.marfalivearts.org.