My weekly morning Iron Range news roundup on 91.7 KAXE continued today (I forgot to shamelessly plug the appearance … that won’t happen again!). Today the topic was Dylan Days, the grassroots arts event held each May in Hibbing of which I am one of the organizers. We had a great talk about Bob Dylan’s relationship with the Iron Range, including his gravitation toward the accordion in the latter stages of his career. (You can hear the interview in the archives for a week; it aired 7:20-7:40 a.m.). Here is our fresh new press release going out today:
Dylan Days boasts full new schedule for 2009
Lineup features music, art and literature in music icon’s hometownHIBBING, Minn. (April 20, 2009) – As Bob Dylan prepares to release another new album, his hometown of Hibbing, Minn., is preparing to honor him with its annual celebration of music, literature, visual art and Dylan history. Dylan Days 2009 takes place May 21-24.
Dylan, born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minn., on May 24, 1941 and raised in Hibbing, turns 68 this year and adds to his storied discography with a new album, “Together Through Life.” Dylan Days has built a reputation of honoring Hibbing’s famous son with a grassroots showcase of singers, songwriters, authors, poets, artists and actors.
“Visitors from all over the world come to be a part of something that you have to experience to fully understand,” said Aaron Brown, Dylan Days co-organizer and Minnesota author. “Our mission is to help connect the Iron Range arts community and the story of Bob Dylan in Hibbing to the larger universe of artists and Dylan fans across the globe.”
This year’s Dylan Days features annual staples like the Singer/Songwriter contest, Literary Night, the Bobby Zimmerman bus tour and the Dylan Days Benefit Concert. This year, the benefit concert features violinist Scarlet Rivera and Gene LaFond and the Wild Unknown. Five authors will be part of Dylan Days, including Cathy Wurzer, Michael Gray, Steven Heine, Colleen Sheehy and Brown. Anyone with an interest in performing in Dylan’s hometown will have several opportunities to participate during the event.
“With our music, writing and visual arts contests, the various participants from all over the world become the stars of Dylan Days,” said Brown.
More information at www.dylandays.com. And yes, I did write my own quotes into this press release. Yes it is weird to do that … at first. But then you get used to it which, eventually, makes you feel even weirder.
You want accordion?
Then hire the “Goody Two Shoes, Thimbleberry Folk Band.” (They throw the accordion in for free!)