Bob Dylan Breaks a 15‑Year Hiatus With The Times They Are A‑Changin’ at Outlaw Music Festival

26 June 2025

Bob Dylan performed one of his classic songs for the first time in 15 years during the Outlaw Music Festival’s stop in Franklin, Tennessee, on Wednesday night. Gary Miller/Getty Images

At the Outlaw Music Festival stop in Franklin, Tennessee on June 25, 2025, Bob Dylan stirred the hearts of fans by performing his protest anthem “The Times They Are A‑Changin’” live for the first time in 15 years a moment both unexpected and electric

The veteran songwriter, whose appearance on the Outlaw Music Festival tour has marked a significant highlight of the summer live music season alongside legends like Willie Nelson, took to the stage in a set that blended deep cuts with landmark classics .

Opening with “Gotta Serve Somebody,” Dylan moved through fan favourites including “Forgetful Heart,” “To Ramona,” “Early Roman Kings,” and “Desolation Row,” before pausing for what may have been the evening’s most resonant moment when the familiar chords of “The Times They Are A‑Changin’” rang out amid cheers.

Reviewers have emphasized the emotional weight of that live performance, noting that the anthem felt especially potent in a time marked by cultural and political shifts. Audiences were reminded of Dylan’s enduring impact on the soundtrack of societal reflection .

The festival setlist carried on with defining tracks such as “All Along the Watchtower,” “Love Sick,” and “Blind Willie McTell,” balancing nostalgia with Dylan’s continued exploration of his evolving repertoire.

This stop follows Dylan’s earlier shows on the Outlaw Music Festival route, where he similarly offered a blend of contemporary compositions from Rough and Rowdy Ways and older material, often surprising long-time fans with rare live appearances from his songbook.

Dylan’s reemergence in a festival environment reflects his strategy this season: curated, impactful performances rather than grinding tour schedules. Each appearance whether in Phoenix, Clarkston, Cincinnati, or Tennessee has become a moment of reverence, conversation, and rediscovery .

As the tour moves forward toward Kansas City and beyond, anticipation grows over what Dylan might unveil next. Will another long-dormant song make its return? Or will he deepen his journey into the darker emotional contours of his recent work? One certainty remains: each live performance from this legendary artist continues to resonate well beyond its final chord.