Bob Dylan’s music will be blowing in the wind of Torrance on May 25 with the return of the annual Dylanfest.
The 34th annual festival will feature eight straight hours of the legendary singer’s music performed by more than 60 Dylan-loving musicians.
“It’s obviously No. 1 about the music, and then a close second is the community that has formed around the event,” said Renee Safier, who along with her bandmate Andy Hill founded the festival. “People get to reconnect with friends from near and far and share the music that has meant so much to so many people for so many decades,” she added.
The festival began as a small Dylan-themed birthday party at the Hermosa Saloon where people wore outfits inspired by his songs. Then it became a 10-hour annual backyard party until the police shut them down. For the past decade or so it’s been an outdoor festival where hundreds of fans show up to hear some of Dylan’s best known songs as well as deep cuts and music from throughout his long career.
“The first time we did it was when Bob Dylan turned 50 and we thought he’s so old we better honor him in some way before it’s too late. And now we’re all older than that,” Hill said.
The day of music will include bands taking the stage performing his songs while Hill and Safier’s band Hard Rain will act as the primary band playing backup music to singers belting out some of Dylan’s tunes. Fans can expect about 60 or so Dylan songs performed throughout the festival, with no song repeated.
“It’s just continuous music all day,” Safier said.
And since it all started as a costume party, people are also encouraged to come in costumes inspired by the music. So if you’re going to dress up think of songs like “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” or maybe even “Hurricane.”
While the festival has obviously been a long-running success, Hill doesn’t think Dylan has ever even heard about it. So fans shouldn’t expect a surprise appearance from the singer anytime soon, especially since he’s known for skipping another pretty big honor when he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 but didn’t attend the ceremony.
“If he couldn’t find the time to make it to Sweden to accept the Nobel Prize we doubt he’s going to come to Torrance,” Hill said with a chuckle.
Dylanfest
When: Noon- 8 p.m. May 25
Where: Torrance Arts Cultural Center, outside at the Torino Plaza, 3330 Civic Center Drive
Cost: $35 online and $40 at the door
Information: andyandrenee.com
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Courtesy : https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/05/14/music-fans-can-hear-eight-continuous-hours-of-bob-dylan-songs-at-this-torrance-festival/