Dylan Comes to the Starlight on July 4th

by Pa Rock

Fan of Kansas City

One of the things I love about Kansas City, and there are several, is the iconic Starlight Theater, an outdoor amphi-theatre in Swope Park that seats around eight thousand.  It's a breezy, calm, and refreshing venue, the perfect place to sit out under the stars while enjoying first-rate live entertainment.   I have seen some wonderful shows that the Starlight.

All of which means I have a firm place on the Starlight's mailing list and have advance notice of upcoming shows and when tickets go on sale.  In a blast from the past, yesterday I received an email notice that Bob Dylan, the singer and songwriter who helped Joan Baez and a few other entertainers define the 1960's, will be performing at the Starlight on Saturday evening, July 4th.  Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10:00 a.m.  (816-363-7827) - and they will be pricey.

(And, in the event of rain, they sell cheap poncho's in the gift shop!)

I won't be there.  I did see Dylan at an outdoor venue in Branson thirty-five years ago as he was turning fifty, and he was less than energetic then.  But for anyone who hasn't touched base with that important part of American and Rock history, the Starlight on Independence Day would be a great place and  time to do it.

My youngest son stays up on entertainment news, and he says Bob Dylan, who will, be 85 on May 24th, is out touring as a way of capitalizing off interest that was stirred by the Timothee Chalamet's 2024 biopic of Dylan's life and career, "A Complete Unknown."  Being a fan of both Dylan and Chalamet, seeing that film is definitely on my bucket list.

(While I wouldn't jump in my little Kia and rush to Kansas City to see 85-year-old Bob Dylan for a second time, I would hurry up there to see 93-year-old Willie Nelson for a second time.  There ain't nothin' tired about  ol' Willie!)

My dentist, who lives a mile on down the road from me, treats the community to a free fireworks show each 4th of July.  I will probably spend that evening sitting in his field and enjoying the show, but I may take my headphones along a listen to Bob Dylan 'neath the rockets' red glare and the bombs bursting in air!  It doesn't take much to keep me happy!