Bob Dylan Australian tour announced

Returning to Australian shores for the first time in four years as part of headline appearances at the 2011 Bluesfest and West Coast Blues 'n' Roots festivals, a run of tour dates have been announced for April, including a special appearance in Adelaide with B.B. King.

The poet-laurete of rock'n'roll. The voice of the promise of the 60's counterculture. The guy who forced folk into bed with rock.

For the past 22 years Bob Dylan has embarked on a relentless touring schedule that has become known as the Never Ending Tour. The premise has been simple since the very start: tour the world one year, then repeat the following year. 2011's Australian tour will mark the Never Ending Tour's sixth journey to Australia and his ninth ever with 1966, 1978 and 1986 appearances showing three very different encarnations of Dylan.

This 2011 tour will showcase the artist on the eve of his 70th birthday, including an April 20 show at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena; 45 years to the day since an electric Bob Dylan first stunned a Melbourne audience at Festival Hall. 1966 saw Dylan at the top of his game. In 2011 the game is the same, just up on another level, with over a decade of critically and commercially adored albums of original material cited by some critics as his most creative and enduring output. An impressive call for an artist who topped out Rolling Stone magazine's list of 500 of the greatest songs of all time, with the magazine's namesake song.

Bob Dylan tours with an impressive crack band, himself hovering over the keyboard for most of the night. When he does pick up a guitar you can expect a Stratocaster, not an acoustic, as he takes on lead guitar duties. The songs you hear will come from virtually any era, any album from a nearly fifty year recording career. Greatest hits will be surrounded by obscure gems from a formidable back-catalogue. Those famous riffs from Like A Rolling Stone, Just Like A Woman or Ballad Of A Thin Man will be instantly recognisable, but many others will be obfuscated by bold new arrangements built around a vastly different vocal performance from a 70-year-old voice that unflinchingly shows every worn crack and imperfection, celebrating a lifetime of achievements rather than showcasing a collection of polished radio hits.

You won't hear a cry of  "It's great to be back in Sydney!" from Dylan, as you won't hear a moment of chatter throughout the night, save for a short and to-the-point thank-you and introduction of the band right before the finale.

As disenchanting to some as it is uplifting to others, the Bob Dylan Show is a poliarising affair. At least it's a poliarising affair you can count on stopping by our shores every few years.

Tuesday 19th April 
Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
With special guest BB King
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

 Wednesday 20th April
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849
 
Saturday 23rd April 
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849
 
Wednesday 27th April 
Entertainment Centre, Sydney
www.ticketmaster.com.au 1300 883 622

Bob Dylan also plays the West Coast Blues 'n' Roots festival and Byron Bay's Bluesfest on April 25. A second appearance at Byron Bay is expected to be announced for April 26.