It appears the rumors are true. As reported here late last year, Duke Robillard will join Bob Dylan's touring band next month.
Robillard is currently on tour in Europe, and played a gig in Landshut, Germany, last night. Afterwards, he spoke to fans. This is the exclusive report, from Dorothee Kern:
"Last night, the Duke Robillard Band played at Jimmy's Cafe, and it was fantastic! After the show, I met him and all of his band, and they signed his new CD, 'Independently Blue,' which is scheduled for release in April.
"I got a chance to ask him about his touring with Bob Dylan in April and, big news, at least for me ... He confirmed the rumors! I also asked him whether Bob will come to Europe and he answered, 'Yes, in the fall.'
"He was busy signing his CD's, so I didn't dare questioning him more. He added, 'Well, see you then!' I don't know when and where he will tour with Bob, but this was exciting news anyway!"
The rumors began when the following information was posted on December 22 to the Byron Bay Bluesfest forum (reposted here with typos fixed):
Duke Robillard was to be toured by an Australian Blues promoter who had sold a date on the tour to Bluesfest.
It has transpired that he was unable to get the number of shows needed to proceed with the tour, and then advised us, and Duke's agent, he was canceling.
Bluesfest then attempted to resurrect the tour, but found it impossible when Duke Robillard subsequently advised he needed to cut the tour short due to his being appointed by Bob Dylan as his new guitar player - and needing to get back to the U.S. by April 1 for rehearsals, and only being available for a much shorter run of dates, which did not make coming to Australia at this time viable...
Sincerely,
Peter Noble
Bluesfest Director
According to his official website, Robillard is currently on tour with his band until the end of the month, and again in May. Nothing is schedule for April, when Dylan is on the road. There are currently 12 concerts listed on Dylan's official site.
Robillard, a co-founding member of Roomful Of Blues, was originally brought in by Dylan to play on his 1997 album, "Time Out Of Mind." According to Bjorner, Robillard appeared on the following songs from those sessions: "Million Miles," "Tryin' To Get To Heaven," "Can't Wait," "Mississippi," "Red River Shore," and "Marchin’ To The City."
Besides playing on "Time Out Of Mind," Robillard has covered Dylan's "Love Sick," "Pledging My Time," "Down Along The Cove," and "Everything is Broken," according to the DylanCover website.
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