On this day in 1961, Bob Dylan played his first major concert

Up until this point Dylan had been performing small shows in clubs and some small guest spots on multi-artist lineups. In September, he began a two week engagement, opening for a better-known band called the Greenbriar Boys. Despite being the opening act, New York Times critic Robert Shelton focused entirely on Dylan in his opening night review. Immediately, more attention was drawn to Dylan and he signed to Columbia Records within a few days.

Five weeks later, Dylan was given his first major slot at Carnegie Chapter Hall, a 200 seat room that was part of the larger Carnegie Hall complex. It has been reported that only 53 people attended, tiny compared to the massive shows Dylan would become accustomed too but still enough to make the inexperienced performer nervous.

Dylan performed 22 songs at the Chapter Hall concert. Many of these songs have been slowly circulating amongst collectors with some appearing as late as 2008. Eight of the songs are still unreleased and searched for by Dylan fans.