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Key developments
Joel Paterson joins Dylan after guitarist exits
Cult Following's Ewan Gleadow, WBEZ, and Rolling Stone Australia's Neil Griffiths report that Chicago-based guitarist Joel Paterson has joined Bob Dylan's touring band after the departures of Bob Britt and Doug Lancio. Paterson appeared with Dylan in Austin on June 29, continued in New Braunfels, and handled guitar duties, with Rolling Stone Australia noting he also played pedal steel on songs including "If Not for You" and "To Ramona." WBEZ identifies Paterson as a Madison-born, Chicago roots-scene musician known locally for work including a Green Mill residency.
Why it matters
It is a concrete mid-tour personnel change in Dylan's active Never Ending Tour band.
Sources & driving stories
CULT FOLLOWING · Ewan Gleadow
Cult Following coverageWBEZ
WBEZ coverageROLLING STONE AUSTRALIA · Neil Griffiths
Rolling Stone Australia coverageDylan guitar lineup questions remain unresolved
Cult Following reports that Bob Britt said in a June 28 Facebook post that his departure from Dylan's tour was voluntary, while Doug Lancio is also believed to have left with the reason still unclear. Rolling Stone Australia adds that Julian Lage was absent because of a National Sawdust engagement in Brooklyn, leaving open whether Paterson remains the sole guitarist or a two-guitar setup returns. WBEZ reports the summer tour continues through July and ends Aug. 1 in Nashville, with October dates in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark not yet confirming Paterson's participation.
Why it matters
The reporting clarifies one exit but leaves Dylan's near-term and European touring lineup unsettled.
Sources & driving stories
CULT FOLLOWING · Ewan Gleadow
Cult Following coverageROLLING STONE AUSTRALIA · Neil Griffiths
Rolling Stone Australia coverageWBEZ
WBEZ coverageNew lineup continued at June 30 show
Cult Following reports that Dylan's reworked band configuration continued for the June 30 performance at Whitewater Amphitheatre in New Braunfels, Texas. The set included "Watching the River Flow," "I Contain Multitudes," and "Every Grain of Sand," with Lucinda Williams and The John Doe Folk Trio opening. Attendees cited by the outlet praised Paterson's performance.
Why it matters
The New Braunfels date provides the first follow-through signal that Paterson's role was not limited to one emergency appearance.
Sources & driving stories
CULT FOLLOWING · Ewan Gleadow
Cult Following coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Cash classic reassessed through Dylan
Far Out Magazine's Tom Taylor uses Dylan's memoir praise for Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" to frame the 1956 single as a restrained, emotionally severe song Dylan viewed as unusually mysterious and revolutionary.
WORTH NOTING
Big Pink anniversary highlights Dylan link
American Songwriter's Clayton Edwards marks the July 1, 1968 release of The Band's "Music from Big Pink" by emphasizing the group's prior electric-tour and Basement Tapes work with Dylan.
WORTH NOTING
Dylan-McCartney relationship gets revisited
Far Out Magazine's Elle Palmer contrasts early accounts of Dylan leaving a room during Paul McCartney's playing with later Rolling Stone reporting that Dylan admired McCartney's sustained output and musical range.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Is Paterson a temporary or continuing hire?
Reports confirm Paterson's immediate appearances but do not confirm whether he will remain through the Aug. 1 Nashville date or the October Scandinavian shows.
OPEN QUESTION
Will Dylan restore a two-guitar lineup?
Rolling Stone Australia frames Julian Lage's scheduling and the departures of Britt and Lancio as open variables in whether Paterson stays alone on guitar or another player returns.