Cain's Ballroom
Details
- Date
- February 20, 2026
- Venue
- Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Billed As
- Sooner or Later
- Gig Type
- Concert
- Guests
- Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Craig Finn, Robyn Hitchcock, Nellie McKay, Natalie Merchant, Emma Swift and many others
Notes
In celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Bob Dylan’s classic album “Blonde on Blonde,” the Bob Dylan Center will present a major multi-artist concert featuring an exciting array of musicians for whom Bob Dylan and his 1966 double-disc landmark remain marvels of omnivorous musicality and lyrical brilliance. This one-night-only event will take place on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 at Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa’s 100-year-old honky-tonk where Dylan himself has performed.
With Emmy-winning “The Daily Show” co-host and senior correspondent Jordan Klepper serving as emcee, the concert will highlight all of the songs on “Blonde on Blonde,” including “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” “Visions of Johanna,” “I Want You,” “Just Like a Woman” and “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” as well as an assortment of other Dylan songs from across his expansive discography, all performed by a house band and a rotating cast of featured artists. The concert title is inspired by the album track “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later).”
Confirmed participants include (in alphabetical order): singer-songwriter brothers duo The Cactus Blossoms; singer-songwriters and founding members of X and The Knitters Exene Cervenka and John Doe; singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito; singer-songwriter Craig Finn (The Hold Steady); Bob Dylan Center inaugural artist-in-residence and former three-term U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo; singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock; La Santa Cecilia lead singer La Marisoul; singer-songwriter and The Walkmen founder Hamilton Leithauser; gospel trio and former Dylan accompanists The McCrary Sisters; singer-songwriter and Broadway performer Nellie McKay; singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant; New York City rock ‘n’ roll mainstay Willie Nile; singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet; and singer-songwriter Emma Swift.
As with the “Blood on the Tracks” fiftieth anniversary show presented by the Bob Dylan Center in Jan. 2025, event co-curator Doug Keith will serve as music director and lead the house band featuring accomplished musicians including (in alphabetical order): indie-rock band Chatham County Line (Greg Readling, John Teer, Dave Wilson); solo artist and in-demand session musician and producer Phil Cook; Ben Folds Five drummer Darren Jessee; and bassist Michael Libramento, all fixtures of the North Carolina music scene.
Setlist may be incomplete and is not in order
With Emmy-winning “The Daily Show” co-host and senior correspondent Jordan Klepper serving as emcee, the concert will highlight all of the songs on “Blonde on Blonde,” including “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” “Visions of Johanna,” “I Want You,” “Just Like a Woman” and “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” as well as an assortment of other Dylan songs from across his expansive discography, all performed by a house band and a rotating cast of featured artists. The concert title is inspired by the album track “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later).”
Confirmed participants include (in alphabetical order): singer-songwriter brothers duo The Cactus Blossoms; singer-songwriters and founding members of X and The Knitters Exene Cervenka and John Doe; singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito; singer-songwriter Craig Finn (The Hold Steady); Bob Dylan Center inaugural artist-in-residence and former three-term U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo; singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock; La Santa Cecilia lead singer La Marisoul; singer-songwriter and The Walkmen founder Hamilton Leithauser; gospel trio and former Dylan accompanists The McCrary Sisters; singer-songwriter and Broadway performer Nellie McKay; singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant; New York City rock ‘n’ roll mainstay Willie Nile; singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet; and singer-songwriter Emma Swift.
As with the “Blood on the Tracks” fiftieth anniversary show presented by the Bob Dylan Center in Jan. 2025, event co-curator Doug Keith will serve as music director and lead the house band featuring accomplished musicians including (in alphabetical order): indie-rock band Chatham County Line (Greg Readling, John Teer, Dave Wilson); solo artist and in-demand session musician and producer Phil Cook; Ben Folds Five drummer Darren Jessee; and bassist Michael Libramento, all fixtures of the North Carolina music scene.
Setlist may be incomplete and is not in order
Set List
- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 Fantastic Negrito & members of The King Cabbage Brass Band
-
Pledging My Time
The McCrary Sisters
-
Visions of Johanna
The Cactus Blossoms
-
One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
Hamilton Leithauser
-
I Want You
La Marisoul
-
Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again
Craig Finn
-
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Chuck Prophet
- Just Like A Woman Emma Swift
- Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine
-
Temporary Like Achilles
Nellie McKay
- Absolutely Sweet Marie Willie Nile
-
4th Time Around
Bob Dylan Robyn Hitchcock
- Obviously Five Believers John Doe & Exene Cervenka
-
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Natalie Merchant
- set break
- Clothes Line Saga Nellie McKay
-
Ring Them Bells
Natalie Merchant & The McCrary Sisters
-
Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)
Craig Finn & The McCrary Sisters
- Baby, Let Me Follow You Down John Doe & Exene Cervenka
-
What Good Am I?
The McCrary Sisters
-
If Not for You
The Cactus Blossoms
-
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Hamilton Leithauser
-
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
La Marisoul
- Like a Rolling Stone Willie Nile
- Abandoned Love Chuck Prophet
Encore
- Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan Everybody - Robyn lead on one verse
-
Gotta Serve Somebody
Ensemble - Emma lead on one verse
Reviews
Online review by Stereogum
Last year, Tulsa's Bob Dylan Center presented a 50th anniversary concert for Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks at Cain’s Ballroom. Last night, a celebration for 60 years of Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde took place at the venue. The evening, MC'd by comedian Jordan Klepper, featured Natalie Merchant, Craig Finn, Hamilton Leithauser, and more performing tracks from the classic album in addition to some non-Blonde songs from Dylan's discography.
Merchant covered "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" and Oh Mercy's "Ring Them Bells," Finn took on "Stuck Inside Of Mobile" and Street-Legal's "Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)," and Hamilton Leithauser performed "One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)" and Highway 61 Revisited's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry."
Other performers included Nellie McKay, the McCrary Sisters, La Marisoul, Fantastic Negrito, the Cactus Blossoms, Willie Nile, Chuck Prophet, Robyn Hitchcock, X's John Doe and Exene, and Chatham County Line. Along with Blonde On Blonde renditions, the Cactus Blossoms also played New Morning's "If Not For You," while Doe and Exene did Bob Dylan's "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down," and everyone came together for Bringing It All Back Home's "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
Last year, Tulsa's Bob Dylan Center presented a 50th anniversary concert for Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks at Cain’s Ballroom. Last night, a celebration for 60 years of Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde took place at the venue. The evening, MC'd by comedian Jordan Klepper, featured Natalie Merchant, Craig Finn, Hamilton Leithauser, and more performing tracks from the classic album in addition to some non-Blonde songs from Dylan's discography.
Merchant covered "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" and Oh Mercy's "Ring Them Bells," Finn took on "Stuck Inside Of Mobile" and Street-Legal's "Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)," and Hamilton Leithauser performed "One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)" and Highway 61 Revisited's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry."
Other performers included Nellie McKay, the McCrary Sisters, La Marisoul, Fantastic Negrito, the Cactus Blossoms, Willie Nile, Chuck Prophet, Robyn Hitchcock, X's John Doe and Exene, and Chatham County Line. Along with Blonde On Blonde renditions, the Cactus Blossoms also played New Morning's "If Not For You," while Doe and Exene did Bob Dylan's "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down," and everyone came together for Bringing It All Back Home's "Subterranean Homesick Blues."