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Bob’s Birthday Bash: Dylan at 70!

Bob Dylan

Date: 17th & 18th November 2011

Location: Birt Acres Theatre, Bute Building & room 2.18, 65-68 Park Place

In celebration of Bob Dylan’s 70th Birthday, and the 50th anniversary of John Hammond signing him to Columbia Records in 1961, the School, supported by the Political Studies Association, with the assistance of the Richard Burton Centre, Swansea University, is bringing together some of the leading commentators on the life, times and music of this iconic figure whose career has spanned five decades.

Speakers include Michael Gray, the author of Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell, Song & Dance Man III, and The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia; Mike Marqusee, the author of Wicked Messenger; David Boucher, author of Dylan and Cohen, and Neil Corcoran, editor of Do You Mr Jones, along with Mike Jones, academic, lyricist and author; Gary Browning, editor of The Political Art of Bob Dylan (with David Boucher), and the legendary Jeff Towns, collector, writer and Dylan Thomas enthusiast.

The celebration culminates in a performance of contemporary acoustic/folk music by Colum Regan and Lawson Dando. Colum Regan's first solo album went to the top 5 of online download charts. As well as performing extensively in his own right he has supported artists including Richie Havens, Robyn Hitchcock, Seth Lakeman, Tom Baxter and many others. His upcoming album Hotel features the talents of Lawson Dando, a multi-instrumentalist and producer who performed with The Incredible String Band and has produced many of Robin Williamson's solo albums.

All welcome - all events free-of-charge.

Programme

Date

Time

Venue Description
Thursday 17th November

18:00 - 19:30*


Birt Acres Theatre, Bute Building Michael Gray, ‘Bob Dylan & The Poetry of the Blues’ Audio Visual
       
Friday 18th November 10:30 - 12:00 Room 2.18, 65-68 Park Place Gary Browning, Bob Dylan and the Politics of Influence
David Boucher, ‘What’s in a name?’
Friday 18th November 12:00 - 13:00   Lunch break
Friday 18th November 13:00 - 14:30 Room 2.18, 65-68 Park Place Mike Jones, ‘Managing Dylan: Albert Grossman’
Neil Corcoran, ‘Dylan now and then’
Friday 18th November 14:30 - 15:00   Coffee break
Friday 18th November 15:00 - 16:30 Birt Acres Theatre, Bute Building The Two Dylans: Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas – Round Table, Michael Gray, David Boucher, Jeff Towns, Daniel G.Williams
       
Friday 18th November 17:30 - 18:30* Birt Acres Theatre, Bute Building Mike Marqusee, The Enduring Dylan
Friday 18th November 18:30 - 19:45* Birt Acres Theatre, Bute Building Contemporary Acoustic, Colum Regan and Lawson Dando – the musical finale!

* Booking required for events on Thursday and Friday evening. Contact Sarah Gallimore to request a free e-ticket.

Useful documents & links

The Two Dylans

Following the successful staging of 'Dylan Thomas Dylan' at the Lincoln Hay Festival, an event in the Cultural Olympics, Michael Grey and a group of celebrated authorities on the works of the two piets will, with the aid of auidio visuals, illustrate and discuss these legendary icons of the twentieth century in celebration of Bob Dylan's 70th birthday.

The Two Dylans event will be held at the Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea on Saturday 19th November.

Read more about The Two Dylans event.

Sarah Gallimore

Position: Event coordinator