A host of new stars have been added to the line-up for ‘Dignity’ – a celebration of 80 years of Bob Dylan live from the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, Dublin next Monday 24 May at 8pm. Curated by Other Voices and the U.S. Embassy Dublin’s Creative Minds, Dignity will be an evening of songs, poetry and collaborations in honour of the music and social impact of Bob Dylan on his 80th birthday.
The artists now confirmed include: Lisa Hannigan, one of Ireland’s most cherished song-writers; Californian alt-folk act, Cinder Well; FeliSpeaks – the acclaimed Nigerian-Irish poet and performer; the critically acclaimed American experimental musician, Peter Broderick; ethereal Galway-based folk star, Brigid Mae Power; and Paul Brady – one of Ireland’s most enduringly popular artists whose music has been publicly admired by Bob Dylan.
These new names complete the full Dignity line-up, which also includes Mick Flannery, Susan O’Neill, writer Joseph O’Connor and Loah, who will also host the livestream.
These artists will come together to raise their voices in recognition of the legendary musician, songwriter and activist whose songs and poetry have touched the lives and inspired so many around the world – perhaps nowhere more so than Ireland.
Updated 25 May: This even is now over but you can watch below –
“I bless the day when I was 15 and first encountered Bob Dylan’s music. He is the only songwriter I have listened to every single week since then.” Joseph O’Connor
“Bob Dylan has had a profound influence on me and I treasure his words and spirit.” Brigid Mae Power
“Bob Dylan is like a musical grandfather to me – and there are many children among us.” Amelia Baker (Cinder Well)
Named for his song ‘Dignity’, the event will bring together the diverse range of acts to perform songs of Bob Dylan, embracing the power of the music, and introducing an Embassy initiative to promote diversity, inclusion and equality – themes thatweave throughout Dylan’s iconic canon.
“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.” – Bob Dylan
“Our greatest strength at home but also abroad is our diversity.” – U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken
Other Voices and Creative Minds will stream Dignity live to the world from the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, at 8pm on Monday 24th May. Irish and international music fans can stream the performances for free on Other Voices’ YouTube and Facebook platforms, RTÉ.ie and on Folk Radio UK’s Facebook page.
Dignity is supported by the Department of Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Ardagh Group.
Fans can set a reminder on Youtube right now here
Quote from Philip King, Other Voices Founder:
“A self-styled “musical expeditionary”, The Song and Dance man Bob Dylan set out in the late 1950s and has been travelling hard ever since. His genius was tracked early on. He was always an Other Voice. Pete Seeger, the guardian of folk song’s eternal flame, asked Bob how he wrote songs: “Do you just spread out the newspaper in the morning until you find the story that really gets you upset?”, “I really just take them out of the air,” replied Dylan. Once described as the performing curator of the museum of American music, Bob Dylan is continuing the journey he started over six decades ago. That he should continue to write, continue to record, continue to perplex and amaze and frustrate and entertain and bewilder and provoke and challenge… is quite simply astonishing. I think that Irish people access Dylan at a profound level; we know where he’s been, we like to think we know where he’s going. Like many of us he embraces and rejects tradition at one and the same time. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were living and playing music in the bars and clubs of Greenwich Village at Dylan’s dawn. They became, like many others, a source and an influence. As he says, “all I ever wanted was to journey to the place that that song spirit came from” He’s done just that ..and with ‘Dignity’ we gather to celebrate the man and his remarkable work. May he stay Forever Young.
Wise man lookin’ in a blade of grass
Young man lookin’ in the shadows that pass
Poor man lookin’ through painted glass
For dignity
“Dignity” Bob Dylan
Listen to the artist curated playlist below on Spotify:
For more Dylan celebrations check our Bob Dylan Appreciation Society Series.
Credit: Lisa Hannigan during Other Voices Courage. Photo by Colm Moore