Bob Dylan does not appear to be one for guests joining his shows. Rather, he shows up where he needs to show up, and does what he needs to do. Nothing more, nothing less. Frankly, he’s Bob Dylan, he doesn’t need to do anything else. However, Dylan subverted his typical ways on Thursday, May 22, when Billy Strings joined him on stage in Spokane, Washington.
While this live collaboration is incredibly surprising, it does make sense for several reasons. First off, Bob Dylan and Billy Strings are currently part of Willie Nelson’s multi-day touring festival, the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. That being so, they were both in Spokane on the night of May 22. Furthermore, Billy Strings is the newest and finest addition to the folk music canon. Thus, it seems Dylan acknowledged this fact by getting up on stage.
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In addition to being a fervent bluegrass lover, Billy Strings has said that he grew up listening to Bob Dylan. He stated in a 2022 interview with Alan Paul, “When I was in middle school, I worshiped Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, James Brown, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, just people like that who are larger than life.”
Per his comments, it seems this was an incredibly spellbinding and exciting experience for Billy Strings. It was also surely one for everyone in attendance.
Watch Bob Dylan and Billy Strings Join Forces
In the performance, Bob Dylan seemed to have taken a page out of Billy Strings’ playbook, as the two turned this rock ‘n’ roll tune into a folky jam band groove. Billy Strings did his part by bolstering the song with his bluegrass riffs, and Dylan did his part by singing his timeless lyrics with his raspy voice.
Aside from the music, the moment depicted the continuation of the American folk music tradition. Now, Strings is by no means Dylan’s successor, but he certainly is someone who is carrying the torch and keeping folk music alive. Bob Dylan seemingly knows this, respects it, and acknowledged it with this humble invitation and performance.
Besides Dylan and Strings, the Outlaw Music Festival Tour also includes Sheryl Crow, the Red Clay Strays, The Avett Brothers, and many more of Americana’s finest musicians. The tour concludes on September 19, 2025, in East Troy, Wisconsin.
Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images
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