This Wednesday and Thursday, BayFM presents a unique fundraising event: Bob’s Birthday. This Tribute celebration by local artists brings together some of the great man’s endless catalogue of hits. In fact, there are so many they have to do the show over two nights! Paddy Raleigh has been at the front line of the event organisation and was responsible for its inception. He spoke with Mandy Nolan about what to expect.
Why a Bob Dylan Tribute? This is the third Dylan tribute that I have done over the years and what I’ve discovered is that if there is one thing that musicians agree on it’s a love of Dylan’s music and a love for playing it. That passion and joy in his music is infectious and makes for a great night’s entertainment.
Do you think Bob’s songs are still relevant now? Bob’s songs will always be relevant because they come from the heart and deal with universal issues. Earlier this year Amnesty International celebrated 50 years of the organisation’s history by releasing a Bob Dylan tribute four-CD set featuring 76 tracks by more than 80 artists. Those involved spanned the music spectrum and included pop singers Adele, Miley Cyrus and Kesham, indie rockers Silversun Pickups and the Belle Brigade and veteran folkies Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, alt-country musicians Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Brett Dennen and the Avett Brothers, mainstream rockers Dave Matthews, Joe Perry and Maroon 5, hard-edged rock band Queens of the Stone Age, world-music acts Ziggy Marley, Mariachi El Bronx and Somalian rapper K’naan and punk banks Bad Religion and Rise Against. It all goes to prove that Bob speaks in many voices for many people and his songs are just as relevant today as they were when they were first written.
Why do you think the music of an artist like Bob Dylan is relevant to our community? I think what appeals to our community is that Bob’s songs reflect a compassion and love for his fellow human beings and an understanding of what is going on in the world.
Tell me about the band? Wow. What a band. When I told all the performers who would be in the backing band they had no hesitation in signing on: Thierry Fosmalle on bass, Matt Hanley on guitar, Scott Hills on drums and Connor Fitzgerald on keyboards. We’re thrilled with the lineup.
Wednesday 23 May & Thursday 24 May – Bob Dylan’s Birthday Bash at Byron Community Centre. Tix $20 for subscribers.
