The Plot Thickens: Julian Lage Plays Another Full Show With Bob Dylan

For the second consecutive night, Julian Lage replaced Doug Lancio in Bob Dylan's band Thursday. The guitar virtuoso was on stage from opener to closer at Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, California.

Julian Lage’s future plans with Dylan are still unclear as is Lancio’s status. The 85-year-old music legend didn’t say anything about the lineup change on Wednesday in Santa Barbara and again last night. A spokesman for Bob Dylan told the Los Angeles Times “he had no word on whether Lage was a permanent addition to the band.”

Doug Lancio has been a member of Dylan’s ensemble since November of 2021 when he replaced Charlie Sexton. The rest of the current band features Tony Garnier on bass, Bob Britt on acoustic guitar and Anton Fig on drums.

The concert at Yaamava’ Theater was unlike most other Long Hot Summer Tour ’26 dates as no one opened for Bob Dylan. Despite the extra time, Dylan still turned in a 16-song performance. A pair of switches from the Santa Barbara setlist came at the end of the night. “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” replaced “Nervous Breakdown,” before “Every Grain Of Sand” was played in place of “I Shall Be Released.”

Bob Dylan returns to the stage on Saturday, June 20 at Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, California. Julian Lage doesn’t have a gig of his own booked until June 29. Stay tuned!