This is our press release for Dylan Days, which starts next week:
Dylan Days 2011 is May 26-29 in Hibbing, Minnesota
HIBBING, Minnesota — Dylan Days, the grassroots arts event in Bob Dylan’s hometown, announces its 2011 schedule. This year Hibbing celebrates Dylan’s 70th birthday with live music, art, literature and a special tribute to the boy named Robert Zimmerman who would go on to become Bob Dylan.
“With Bob Dylan turning 70 we are taking a year to honor not just his accomplishments but the creativity he continues to inspire,” said Aaron Brown, Dylan Days spokesperson. “Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range holds a unique history and artistic tradition, forged by immigrants who came to these distant forests to harvest trees and mine iron ore. Dylan Days is a chance to share the place that spurred a young Bob Dylan with musicians, writers and artists from all over the world.”
This is the 10th year Hibbing has held a formal Dylan Days event. An informal tribute began at Zimmy’s, a Dylan-inspired bar restaurant in downtown Hibbing bar in the 1990s. Popular traditions include live music every night, the Dylan Days singer/songwriter contest, the Bobby Zimmerman interpretive bus tour, a literary showcase and visual arts exhibitions. A $5 souvenir button gains access to most events.
New for 2011, Dylan Days will co-host an authentic rock ‘n’ roll hop featuring music popular at the time Dylan graduated from Hibbing High School in 1959. The first ever Dylan Days symposium will reunite members of Dylan’s longest-lived high school band The Golden Chords for a discussion and feature the world premiere of a new Dylan documentary and the annual literary showcase.
“Our goal with Dylan Days is to provide exciting music and storytelling in a warm, small town festival,” said Brown. “People from all over the world gather in Hibbing to share an experience in Dylan’s hometown. We invite everyone to join us.”
Detailed information about Dylan Days 2011 and its organization may be found at www.dylandays.com.
Dylan Days 2011 ScheduleWednesday, May 25
Brittany Lee and Josh Dunne, 7-11 p.m. at Zimmy’s: Lee, an Iron Range native, joins fellow Nashville musician for acoustic “Dylan Days Eve” show.Thursday, May 26
Dylan Days Welcome Reception, 5 p.m. at Zimmy’s; followed by live music from Anchorage, Alaska’s The Grunt Monkeys.Friday, May 27
Dylan Days Symposium, 2-4 p.m. at Hibbing Public Library Auditorium, featuring discussion with members of Dylan’s high school band The Golden Chords, original film about Dylan and tourism featuring Manchester professor David Leaver, and the 2011 literary showcase with winners of the Dylan Days writing contest.’50s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hop co-sponsored by Hibbing Historical Society, 6-8 p.m. at the Hibbing Memorial Building Dining Hall: authentic music from the 1950s that a young Bob Dylan might have listened to. This event is open to families and will feature a partial reunion of one of Dylan’s early bands, The Golden Chords. Dylan’s favorite boyhood dessert, cherry pie a la mode from the L&B Café, will be available to the crowd.
Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter Contest, First Division, 8:30 p.m.-midnight at Zimmy’s: Competitors from all over the world sing one Dylan song and one original. Our oldest, most popular tradition.
Saturday, May 28
Bobby Zimmerman Bus Tour, 10:30-2:30, pick up/drop off at Zimmy’s: the popular interpretive, interactive tour of Hibbing showing the town Dylan knew, his potential influences, along with the town today through storytelling and history. Waiting list available.Dylan Days 2011 Postal Cancellation, 2-5 p.m., Zimmy’s: Each year the United States Postal Service, by way of its Hibbing post office, offers a creative, unique postal cancellation stamp featuring a limited edition Dylan Days image. This stamp is only available on this day and may be used on memorabilia or actual mail.
Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter Contest, Second Division, 3-6 p.m. at Zimmy’s: Competitors from all over the world sing one Dylan song and one original in this follow-up to the Friday night contest.
The Fifth Day of May with Danny Fox, 6-9 p.m. at Zimmy’s: featuring two-time winner of the Singer/Songwriter contest and Dylan Days favorite.
Johnny’s in the Basement, 9 p.m. at Zimmy’s: a new music project with Duluth musician Jamie Ness; Dylan music keeps the crowd rocking into the night.
Sunday, May 29
Dylan Days Farewell Brunch, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Zimmy’s: Local Ojibwa blessing to start; chat with new friends before going home.
Speak Your Mind