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Bob Dylan performed for the first time in China last night. The folk legend played a two-hour gig in front of a capacity audience of 5,000 at the Workers Gymnasium in Beijing.

Promoters had tried to bring Dylan to China last year, but permission was denied by the country’s Culture Ministry. Last night’s show was also subject to restrictions, with the Chinese authorities pre-approving the set list. This meant there was no room for politically-sensitive material such as “The Times They Are A-Changin.”

The following songs were performed at the Beijing show:

• “Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking”
• “It”s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
• “Beyond The Horizon”
• “Tangled Up In Blue”
• “Honest With Me”
• “Simple Twist Of Fate”
• “Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum”
• “Love Sick”
• “Rollin” And Tumblin”
• “A Hard Rain”s A-Gonna Fall”
• “Highway 61 Revisited”
• “Spirit On The Water”
• “Thunder On The Mountain”
• “Ballad Of A Thin Man”
• “Like A Rolling Stone”
• “All Along The Watchtower”
• “Forever Young.”

Dylan will remain in China for a few more gigs, before touring Australia and New Zealand during the rest of April. A European tour will follow in June/July. The following Dylan tour dates have been confirmed:

• 8 April: Shanghai, China – Grand Stag
• 10 April: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – RMIT University
• 12 April: Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong – KITEC – Star Hall
• 13 April: Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong – KITEC -Star Hall
• 15 April: Singapore – Timbre Rock & Roots Festival
• 17 April: Fremantle, Australia – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots
• 19 April: Adelaide, Australia – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
• 20 April: Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
• 21 April: Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
• 23 April: Wollongong, Australia – WIN Entertainment Centre
• 25 April: Byron Bay, Australia – Byron Bay Bluesfest
• 26 April: Byron Bay, Australia – Byron Bay Bluesfest
• 27 April: Sydney, Australia – Sydney Entertainment Centre
• 28 April: Sydney, Australia – Sydney Entertainment Centre
• 30 April: Auckland, New Zealand – Vector Arena
• 16 June: Cork, Ireland – Marquee
• 18 June: London, England – London Feis – Finsbury Park
• 20 June: Tel Aviv, Israel – Ramat Gan Stadium
• 22 June: Milan, Itlay – Alcatraz
• 24 June: Sursee, Switzerland – Summer Sound
• 25 June: Mainz, Germany – Volkspark
• 26 June: Hamburg, Germany – Stadtpark
• 27 June: Odense, Denmark – Funen Village
• 29 June: Bergen, Norway – Bergen Calling
• 30 June: Oslo, Norway – Spektrum
• 2 July: Borlänge, Sweden – Peace & Love Festival
• 15 July: Costa Mesa, California – Pacific Amphitheatre.

Dylan fans will also be glad to know that a Blu-ray/DVD combo of the acclaimed documentary “Don’t Look Back” is out on April 26 in the US and Canada. The set includes the original movie, a new hour-long Dylan documentary and the original 168-page companion book to the film.

You can pre-order “Don’t Look Back” from:

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