NASHVILLE: A CELEBRATION OF BOB DYLAN'S 75TH BIRTHDAY

TO BENEFIT THISTLE FARMS

Two-night All-Star Celebration of the Music of Bob Dylan Set for May 23rd and 24th at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium

Featuring More Than 30 Acclaimed Artists, Including:
EMMYLOU HARRIS, JASON ISBELL, KACEY MUSGRAVES, ANN WILSON, KURT VILE, KESHA, WYNONNA & THE BIG NOISE, BOZ SCAGGS, JOHN PAUL WHITE, MOON TAXI, CITY & COLOUR AND MANY, MANY MORE.

Tickets Go On Sale Saturday April 16

The Best Fest is proud to announce Dylan Fest: A Celebration of Bob Dylan's 75th Birthday.  Set for May 23rd and 24th at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, the two-night concert event will see an extraordinary and eclectic array of artists paying tribute to the music of Bob Dylan with unprecedented performances of their favorite Dylan songs. In addition to ringing in Bob's 75th - he was born on May 24th, 1941 - the concerts will also mark the 50th anniversary of the release of Blonde on Blonde, Dylan's first album recorded entirely in Nashville. "We are thrilled and grateful to celebrate the life and legacy of Bob Dylan at the legendary Ryman Auditorium," says Best Fest founder Austin Scaggs. "To honor Bob and raise money for a wonderful charity is a win-win." Ticket sale proceeds benefit Thistle Farms, a Nashville-based charity committed to helping a community of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction.  

As always, the Best Fest's acclaimed house band, The Cabin Down Below Band, will host a prodigious cast of musicians, with confirmed artists including Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, *Kacey Musgraves, Ann Wilson, Kurt Vile, Wynonna & The Big Noise, Boz Scaggs, Kesha, City & Colour, Moon Taxi, *Brothers Osborne, Dhani Harrison, John Paul White, Nikki Lane, Brendan Benson, Rayland Baxter, Holly Williams, Langhorne Slim, Eric Pulido of Midlake, Ruby Amanfu, Karen Elson, Amanda Shires, Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips, The Whigs, Cory Chisel, Adriel Denae, Jonathan Tyler, Robert Ellis, Shelly Colvin, Tommy Emmanuel and many more surprise guests. The Fest is honored that one of the original "Nashville Cats", the legendary Charlie McCoy (a veteran of Blonde on Blonde, Nashville Skyline and John Wesley Harding) will be sitting in on harmonica. "We are so thrilled by the generosity of all of these incredible performers," says Scaggs. "They're lending their time and talent for their love of Bob, and for a wonderful cause."  

Once again, The Best Fest is proud to have Jameson Irish Whiskey on board as sponsor.  The Fests started in the same New York community of bartenders, musicians, and craftsmen that adopted Jameson as their drink of choice. The Best Fest and Jameson forged a relationship based on similar values, shared appreciation and interest in spreading the community spirit. 

Also on board as sponsors for Dylan Fest Nashville are Google Play, SunTrust Bank, Billy Reid, The Hutton Hotel, Jim & Nicks BBQ, and Husk.  The Best Fest would like to extend a very special thank you to them all for pitching in.   

No artist is nearer and dearer to the heart of the Fests than Bob Dylan. It was  on the occasion of Dylan's 60th birthday that the first Fest took place, at Manitoba's bar on Avenue C in New York City's East Village. 

Artist & Line Up Subject To Change Without Notice

*Performing May 24th Only

Tickets On Sale Saturday April 16th 10am CT:
May 23rd: http://smarturl.it/DylanFestNash23
May 24th: http://smarturl.it/DylanFestNash24

About The Best Fest:
Nearly 15 years after celebrating Bob Dylan's 60th birthday by jamming with a few friends in a tiny Lower East Side bar, The Best Fests - including Dylan Fest, Petty Fest, Stones Fest, George Fest, Brian Fest and Neil Fest - are now a rock and roll tradition. The New York Times described The Fests as "one of the most jubilant events of the year" and Rolling Stone touted it as "an experience that is equal parts concert and celebration." The Best Fest travels the globe producing one of a kind all-star charity concerts. They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity nationally.  Multiple sold out shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, and Dublin have featured guest performances from an incredible and diverse array of celebrities and artists including: Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Johnny Depp, The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, The Killers, Ryan Adams, The Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, Kesha, Perry Farrell, Spoon, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Harper, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Ann Wilson, Jakob Dylan, Trisha Yearwood, and many more. George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music of George Harrison is now a beautify captured live album and full length concert film available on Vagrant Records (BMG). For updates and information, please visit www.thebestfest.com and follow @thebestfest on Instagram and @The_BestFest on Twitter.   

About Thistle Farms:
Thistle Farms is a sanctuary for healing for women survivors of abuse, addiction, trafficking and prostitution. They are a community of survivors, advocates, employees, interns, volunteers, and friends from all across the world. They are young and old, women and men. They want to change a culture that still allows human beings to be bought and sold. They believe that in the end, love is the strongest force for change in the world. http://thistlefarms.org/ 

About Jameson® Irish Whiskey:
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a smooth and perfectly balanced triple distilled Irish Whiskey rooted in Irish heritage dating back to 1780 when legendary John Jameson released his first cask. The brand's success comes down to the skilled distillers that ensure Jameson's unique taste and the communities who have supported its handcrafted quality for hundreds of years. Reliably timeless and simple, Jameson is best enjoyed during great times with great friends.  It has all the quality credentials to allow it be consumed straight, but is versatile and is equally great when mixed. Follow Jameson Irish Whiskey @JamesonWhiskey on Facebook and @Jameson_US on Instagram and Twitter.]