All Things Considered Live
October 6, 2025
07:00 PM
Until
October 6, 2025, 08:05 PM
1h 5m
All Things Considered Live: Bob Dylan - Folk Rogue 1964 - 1965 Two Newport Folk Festival
JamFest
Organized by
DJ Don Edwards
DJ Don Edwards
Bob Dylan – Folk Rogue 1964 – 1965 Two Newport Folk Festival is a collection of bootleg recordings of Bob Dylan’s historic performances at the Newport Folk Festival, particularly his acoustic show in 1964 and the famous electric set in 1965. It is not an official release but is valued by fans and music historians for its sound quality and documentation of a pivotal moment in music history.
Key components of the collection
- 1964 Newport performance: Dylan was the main act at the 1964 festival and performed an acoustic set featuring new compositions like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Chimes of Freedom”. This performance solidified his status as a folk music icon.
- 1965 Newport performance: This is the more famous of the two shows and is often referred to as the night Dylan “went electric.” Backed by a blues band, his amplified rock music was met with a chorus of boos from a traditionalist folk audience. This polarizing decision was a major turning point, marking his break from the traditional folk scene and helping to popularize the folk-rock genre.
- Bonus tracks: The bootleg also includes additional live material, such as recordings from Newcastle, U.K., and a show at the Hollywood Bowl with Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson.
- Sound quality: The recordings are sourced from the soundboard, making them some of the best-sounding bootlegs of these performances.
The significance of the 1965 set
The “going electric” moment is a landmark event in music history for several reasons:
- Artistic defiance: It represented Dylan’s refusal to be confined to the expectations of his fans, a powerful statement of artistic independence.
- Birth of a genre: By merging folk sensibilities with electric instruments, the performance catalyzed the growth of folk-rock.
- Cultural shift: Some critics view the event as a reflection of the broader cultural shifts happening in America during the 1960s.
How to access the recordings
- Bootleg market: The collection is available through unofficial channels, primarily online on sites like YouTube, specialized bootleg forums, or on physical media like CD-Rs from import labels.
- Official releases: While the Folk Rogue bootleg is unofficial, a PBS documentary titled Bob Dylan – Live in Newport 1963-1965 chronicles his appearances at the festival and includes footage of the performances. Portions of the 1965 performance have also appeared on official releases, including tracks on the album The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack
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