Whakatāne musicians will gather at Wharaurangi (The Gap) tomorrow with guitars in their hands and songs in their hearts to celebrate Bob Dylan’s birthday.

Dylan turns 85 this Sunday and inspired by a sellout concert in Tauranga, musician Dave Stewart decided to bring it all back home and stage an event in Whakatāne.

“I missed out on tickets to the Tauranga event, so in the true DIY ethos that brings me to music in the first place, I decided we could probably do a pretty good Dylan concert here instead.”

Stewart has invited his friends in the music scene to bring their favourite Dylan songs and treat the event as an open mic.

“Dylan hit the scene in the very early 60s and here we are six decades later still hanging out for his next album.

“Dylan remains highly relevant because his timeless lyrics perfectly capture recurring themes of protest, identity, and the human condition, resonating deeply with new generations.

“As the first musician to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, his ongoing evolution proves that authentic, poetic storytelling transcends musical trends,” Stewart said.

In the curated, highly polished digital era, Dylan’s raw authenticity, constant reinvention, and refusal to play by the rules appeal strongly to those looking for genuine artistic expression.

Forever Young – Happy 85th Birthday Bob Dylan from Whakatāne runs from at 5pm until 7pm.