ON THIS DAY IN 1963, BOB DYLAN PLAYED HIS FIRST EVER SOLO CONCERT IN NEW YORK

Performing at New York’s Town Hall, Dylan had only headlined at small clubs and bars, and the 200 seat Carnegie Recital Hall, at which he drew less than 70 people. After releasing his second solo LP, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” solidified his artistic prowess and he quickly grew into the incredible performer we know today. Though the album wasn’t yet released, Dylan played mostly songs from it, choosing only 3 tracks from his solo debut.

The concert he held has since become a staple in the history of popular music, and drew incredibly positive reviews. Many reviewers claim it is the concert that solidified Dylan into a star, as he played an extensive 23 song set, and concluded with a long poem, titled “Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie”. Recordings of the concert are available here.