Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan sending Patti Smith to accept his Nobel Prize, sending a speech too

The ongoing saga of whether and how Bob Dylan will acknowledge the fact that he won a Nobel Prize has been one of the more quietly entertaining music stories of 2016. After finally speaking publicly about the honor in late October, it’s now been revealed that he won’t in fact make it to Sweden for the imminent ceremony, which happens on December 10, but he will be sending a worthy representative to accept it.

Patti Smith will be at the ceremony to perform on Bob’s behalf and will perform “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” Bob has also “provided a speech which will be read at the Nobel banquet.” Likewise, Bob skipped President Obama’s event for Nobel prize winners.

Meanwhile, Patti is playing some shows in NYC and Chicago around New Years this year, and she’s since added a second Chicago show ON New Years Eve (12/31) at Park West, and Tickets are on sale now. She also plays Chicago’s The Riviera on 12/30 and NYC at Bowery Ballroom on 12/27, both of which are sold out.

All dates listed below.

Patti Smith — 2016/17 Tour Dates
Dec 27 New York City Bowery Ballroom
Dec 30 Chicago Riviera Theatre
Dec 31 Chicago Park West
April 9 Sydney, Australia State Theatre
April 10 Sydney, Australia State Theatre
April 13 Byron Bay, Australia Blues Fest
April 16 Melbourne, Australia Hamer Hall
April 17 Melbourne, Australia Hamer Hall
April 18 Melbourne, Australia Hamer Hall