4Ever Songs: Bob Dylan ‘Hurricane’

Bob Dylan, whose real name is Robert Zimmerman, is an American artist (singer, songwriter, composer, painter, poet …) known worldwide and emblematic of folk music.

In 1976, the singer released his album Desire, in collaboration with lyricist Jacques Levy, which included the controversial song ‘Hurricane’, written in 1975. This song, which is particularly long (8 minutes and 32 seconds), can be described as a ‘protest song‘. In other words, it is an artistic way of defending a cause, of making one’s voice heard on a societal theme. In this case, the artist is outraged by the injustice suffered by the boxer Rubin Carter, who was convicted in 1966. 

4Ever Songs: The Animals “The House Of The Rising Sun”

The Animals was a bunch of egotists,” says Eric Burdon. “Which exploded like a hand grenade.” The song responsible, “The House Of The Rising Sun”, dates back to the 19th Century. A folk staple, Bob Dylan recorded it for his self-titled debut in 1962, and it’s this version that found its way to Newcastle. The Animals recorded it in 1964 as their second single. Up until then, they’d specialised in R’n’B covers. But “The House Of The Rising Sun” provided something of a change of pace. It was raw, adult R’n’B that not even the Stones could match. “When we met them at the Club A Go Go in Newcastle, I saw the look on the faces of Mick and Keith,” Burdon says. “It was quite clear they had to kill us off.”

“The House Of The Rising Sun” was a global hit, The Animals becoming the first UK band to top the US charts since The Beatles. But they never came close to matching its success again, and by September ’66, the band had split.

Divus Julius presents: Will Butler

William Butler is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer who is best known as a core member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire. He is the brother of Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler.

American music—in the tradition of the Violent Femmes, The Breeders, The Modern Lovers, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, The Magnetic Fields, Ghostface Killah. Music where the holy fool runs afoul of the casual world.

With his new solo album ‘Generations’ our on 25th September, Arcade Fire’s Will Butler is unveiling the latest taste of what to expect, releasing new track ‘Bethlehem’.

Divus Julius presents: Sammy Brue

Since Sammy Brue released his debut album I Am Nice in 2017 , the now-18-year-old Utah singer-songwriter has been hailed as an “Americana prodigy” by Rolling Stone, as a “wunderkind” by American Songwriter, been labeled one of the “teenagers shaping pop” by The New Yorker; and performed at the Newport Folk Festival and played shows with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Lukas Nelson and Hayes Carll.

Sammy Brue has been writing songs since the age of 10. After receiving an acoustic guitar from his father for Christmas, he quickly embraced the instrument and began learning the songs of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Since writing his first song (a fingerpicked, autobiographical tune titled “The Woody Guthrie Song”) at the age of 11, Brue has released three homespun EPs, a debut album, I Am Nice, a 2018 EP, Down with Desperation and his sophmore album Crash Test Kid.

Favourite Gig: The Tallest Man on Earth

Swedish artist Kristian Matsson (aka The Tallest Man on Earth) has won the hearts of thousands of fans with his natural manner as his man weapon and a catalogue of highly emotional and melodic songs with echos of Bob Dylan. He’s in Barcelona to present his newest album, ‘Dark Bird Is Home’ (2015), the fourth of his career and the first he’s recorded with a band, which will perform live with him as well. Tonight in concert at Sala Barts.

Favourite Gigs: Bob Dylan

Musician and Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan is back in Barcelona to make his debut tonight and tomorrow at the Gran Teatre del Liceu as part of the Guitar BCN concert series. It’s another chance to see one of the living legends of music live, as he’s on tour around Europe to present his latest studio album, ‘Triplicate’ (2017). You can be sure to hear tracks from this LP as well as his big classics that have marked generations.

Dan Owen is made to love you

Although only 24 years old, Shrewsbury singer/songwriter Dan Owen’s soulful musical knack is undeniable. Owen became an overnight sensation after an audience member uploaded a video of him playing Bob Dylan’s ‘The Ballad of Hollis Brown’ online. With a hauntingly husky tone to his voice, and his own heart-felt lyrics to match, he is certainly one to watch in the upcoming indie-folk scene. He will `play tonight in Sala Sidecar by Cooncert.