On May 24, 2021, Bob Dylan turns 80!
We plan to celebrate the man and his work on the airwaves throughout the day and we need your help!
What do Bob Dylan and his music mean to you? Do you have a story to share about how Dylan’s work impacted you or played a significant role in your life? Any favourite live performance memories? Any comments on his impact on music, arts, and culture over his lifetime of work?
Please let us know by emailing us or by using the Open Mic feature on our app! We’ll share as much as we can on Monday, May 24, 2021!
You’ll also hear us celebrating Bob on our airwaves, leading up to the big day!
From noon to 1:00 PM (MT) on Saturday, May 22, the Dirty Windshields Radio Hour goes full Bob, with Leeroy Stagger playing originals and covers of Bob Dylan songs.
Later that night, between 5:00 and 7:00 PM (MT), Mulligan Stew features artists reflecting on Dylan’s life and work. We’ll hear portions of archival interviews with David Bowie, Robbie Robertson, Greg Keelor, the Avett Brothers and more. We’ll also look back on Terry David Mulligan‘s conversation with Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson, who performed a re-imagining of Dylan’s classic album Blood on the Tracks. Plus, Terry revisits his chat with Colin Linden, who toured with Dylan’s band for 13 dates, with no rehearsals!
In honour of Dylan’s upcoming birthday, I’m putting together a “Roots of Bob Dylan” Roy’s Record Room for Sunday, May 23, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM (MT)!
I won’t be playing any Bob. Instead, I’ll play original versions of songs that Bob has covered or has used as templates for his own numbers.
The playlist consists of tracks from Nat Shilkret with Willard Robison, Jimmie Rodgers, Little Jr. Parker & His Blue Flames, Paul Clayton, Bo Carter, the Davis Sisters, Billie Holiday, Jules Allen, and more. It’ll be an eclectic hour.
Victoria Day (Monday, May 24, 2021 for anyone outside of Canada) on CKUA will be jam-packed with music and conversation in celebration of Dylan, including reflections from Lark Clark, Vish Khanna, Roy Forbes, and Amy van Keeken, musicians like The Weather Station, and heart-warming messages from listeners. In honour of Bob Dylan’s 80th Birthday, Monday’s Alberta Morning will feature a conversation with broadcaster Laura Tenschert, who brings a fresh, modern feminist perspective in her exploration of Dylan’s work through her show and podcast Definitely Dylan. Laura is also a board member at the Institute of Bob Dylan Studies at the University of Tulsa, OK. She’ll join Grant Stovel at 8:45 AM (MT) to talk about her passion for interpreting and celebrating Dylan’s work.
Plus, Earlier this month, we learned the Bob Dylan Centre would open in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 10, 2022. It will showcase the official (and ever-growing) Bob Dylan Archive to the world. An official release suggested it would “house and exhibit more than 100,000 exclusive cultural treasures created and owned by Dylan over seven decades, including original manuscripts, unreleased recordings, unseen film performances, photos and more.”
But, after speaking with the Centre’s curator, Michael Chaiken, our own Vish Khanna learned that Center is more than just a tribute to the world’s most impactful, living songwriter; it’s a testament to human ingenuity and the creative spirit, designed to inspire all of us. We’ll hear their conversation on Traffic Jams at 5:45 PM (MT).