Happy Birthday, Bob: A Week-Long Celebration

Photograph by Martin Benjamin

Bob Dylan celebrates his 76th birthday on Wednesday (May 24), and the legendary singer-songwriter’s influence on music and, in fact, all of American popular culture continues to be so pervasive that a single day of celebration just isn’t enough.

So here’s a round-up of some of the birthday tribute events that are taking place around Greater Nippertown throughout the week:

TODAY (MONDAY, MAY 22), 7pm
“The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan”
Congregation Knesset Israel, Pittsfield
Hudson Dylanologist Seth Rogovoy presents a multimedia program exploring the Jewish influences in the life and work of the singer-songwriter and recent Nobel Prize-winner. $18.

WEDNESDAY (MAY 24), 7pm
“Bob Dylan: The Other Side of the Mirror”
Proctors’ GE Theatre, Schenectady
Murray Lerner’s documentary film is an unvarnished chronicle of Bob Dylan’s metamorphosis from folk to rock via his appearances at the Newport Folk Festival between 1963-1965. $5.

THURSDAY (MAY 25), 8pm
Bob Dylan Birthday Tribute Show
Club Helsinki, Hudson
Singer-songwriter Pat O’Shea – the long-time guitarist with Levon Helm & the Barnburners – and his special guests will take the stage to perform a broad array of Dylan songs. $15.

SATURDAY (MAY 27), 8pm
Dylan Night
the Ale House, Troy
Guitarslinger Mark Emanatian and his band Soul Sky play a special concert chockfull of Dylan classics.

SUNDAY (MAY 28), 7pm
Old Crowe Medicine Show
Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown
The Americana favorites put their own spin on Dylan’s classic 1966 double album, Blonde on Blonde, as they perform the album in its entirety. With Driftwood opening the show. $40 in advance; Free for children age 5 & under.

SUNDAY (MAY 28), 8pm
The 9th Annual Bob Dylan Birthday Celebration
Bearsville Theater, Woodstock
This benefit concert for Family of Woodstock’s Crisis Hotline and the John Herald Fund for Musicians in Need stars some of the best Hudson Valley musicians interpreting the rich Dylan songbook, including Larry Campbell, Cindy Cashdollar, Jay Collins, Marshall Crenshaw, Zach Djanikian, Amy Helm, Jonah Smith, Brian Hollander, Robin LeMartel, Charles Lyonhart, Kate Pierson, Rich Pagano, Eric Redd and Nick Spinetti. The houseband for the show features Connor Kennedy, Will Bryant, Lee Falco and Brandon Morrison. $25, $45 & $65.