Dragons welcome Dylan show to Fifth Third Field
Since first embarking on a tour of Minor League Baseball parks in 2004, more than a half-million fans have come together to spend a night under the stars. With free admittance for children*, these tours draw a multi-generational fan base rarely seen on the concert circuit, causing one reporter to describe it as, "more like a backyard party than a rock concert." The Boston Globe ranked the tour among "the most relaxed, enjoyable shows of the year. "You Can't Beat Fun At The Old Ballpark," came a headline from the Chicago Sun Times.
Besides performing more than 100 concerts each year for the past 15 years, Bob Dylan drops into millions of households each week with his highly popular satellite radio program Theme Time Radio Hour. In recent years, he has also received the big-screen treatment, courtesy of film director Martin Scorcese, with the critically acclaimed release of No Direction Home, the first feature-length film biography of Bob Dylan. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 weeks on the New York Times best seller list with the publication of Chronicles: Volume One, the first in a series of the artist's self-penned personal histories.
In between these high-water marks, Bob has earned multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Kennedy Center Honor (the highest honor of artistic achievement given in the United States). As a recording artist, he continues to hit the long ball. After debuting at No. 1 with his last record, Modern Times, Bob Dylan is about to release a brand new studio album on April 28 through Columbia Records. Entitled Together Through Life, it has already received 4-star reviews from MOJO, The London Telegraph and the New York Times.
Over the course of a career that has spanned more than 30 years, John Mellencamp, consummate songwriter and performer, has released 23 albums with worldwide sales of more than 40 million units, while amassing 22 Top 40 hit songs. In 2008, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Life Death Love and Freedom, was issued. It was called by Rolling Stone "one of the most compelling albums of Mellencamp's career" and placed among the magazine's Top 5 albums of the year.
Mellencamp's ties to Willie Nelson date back to 1985, the year they joined forces to mount the first Farm Aid benefit concert that also featured a stellar set from Bob Dylan. Mellencamp and Bob Dylan have been friendly for the past 25 years. Besides rallying his friends each year to support Farm Aid, Willie Nelson is quite possibly the most prolific recording artist in any genre of music. In the past five years alone he's released no fewer than a dozen records, and when he's not in the studio recording new albums, he fills time writing books, acting in feature films and generally keeping a pace unimaginable for someone half his age. It's a wonder he even finds the time to tour.
All concert tickets are priced at $67.50, and most shows are general admission, allowing fans to grab a seat in the stands or find a place to watch from the field. Tickets will go on sale throughout the month of May (see below) and will be available at the local ballpark ticket office and affiliated ticket outlets.
*Children 14 and under get in free with each adult ticket holder. Showtime is 5:30 p.m. and gates open at 5 p.m.. There is no baseball game on the day of the show. For more information about the tour and presale opportunities, please visit www.bobdylan.com online.
Currently announced tour schedule
Date // Market // On-Sale
July 2 // Sauget, Ill., at GCS Ballpark // May 2
July 4 // South Bend, Ind., at Coveleski Stadium // May 2
July 8 // Louisville, Ky., at Louisville Slugger Field // May 9
July 10 // Dayton, Ohio, at Fifth Third Field // May 2
July 11 // Eastlake, Ohio. at Classic Park // May 2
July 13 // Washington, Pa., at Consol Energy Park // May 2
July 14 // Allentown, Pa., at Coca-Cola Park // May 2
July 15 // New Britain, Ct., at New Britain Stadium // May 9
July 19 // Syracuse, N.Y., at Alliance Bank Stadium // May 9
July 21 // Pawtucket, R.I., at McCoy Stadium // May 9
July 23 // Lakewood, N.J., at FirstEnergy Park // May 2
July 24 // Aberdeen, Md., at Ripken Stadium // May 9
July 25 // Norfolk, Va., at Harbor Park // May 9
July 28 // Durham, N.C., at Durham Bulls Athletic Park // May 9
July 29 // Sevierville, Tenn., at Smokies Park // May 16
Aug. 4 // Round Rock, Texas at The Dell Diamond // May 16
Aug. 5 // Corpus Christi, Texas at Whataburger Field // May 16
Aug. 7 // Grand Prairie, Texas at Ballpark of Grand Prairie // May 30
Aug. 11 // Glendale, Ariz., at Camelback Ranch // May 16
Aug. 12 // Las Vegas, Nev., at Cashman Field // May 30
Aug. 14 // Fresno, Calif., at Chukchansi Park // May 30
Aug. 15 // Stockton, Calif., at Banner Island Ballpark // May 30