Never Ending Tour 2012
# Never Ending Tour 2012

The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988.

## Background

The 2012 leg of the Never Ending tour was announced via BobDylan.com on February 16, 2012. The first dates to be announced were concerts taking place in three South American Countries; Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Dylan previously visited these countries last time he toured South America on the Never Ending Tour 2008. On March 15, 2012, after being rumored in the press, it was confirmed that Dylan would perform in Heredia, Costa Rica on May 5, 2012. This was Dylan's first concert in the country of Costa Rica and his first concert in Central America. On March 28, 2012 it was confirmed that Dylan would return to Mexico, four years after his last performances there in 2008.

It was confirmed on March 27, 2012 that Dylan would return to Kent in 2012 to headline the Hop Farm Festival. Dylan had previously headlined the festival in July 2010. On March 29, 2012 Dylan's official website revealed several European concerts for the summer of 2012. These dates included official confirmation of his performances at Hop Farm Festival, Festival Internacional Benicàssim and Festival Vieilles Charrues Les Nuits de Fourvière. It was revealed that Dylan also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Dylan also performed in Salzburg, Austria and Nîmes, France.

Dylan performed at eleven European concerts this summer including: his second performance at The Hop Farm Festival in Kent, the Citadel Music Festival in Berlin, Kunst!Rasen Gronau in Bonn, Lieder im Schloss in Bad Mergentheim, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain, Festival Jardins de Cap Roig in Calella, Festival de Nîmes in France, Collisioni 2012 in Barolo, Les Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon and the Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix.

Rehearsals for Dylan's 2012 European tour began at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York on Monday June 25, 2012 and lasted until Wednesday June 27, 2012 where Dylan and his band flew to England for his performance at Hop Farm Festival on Saturday June 30, 2012. Among unknown tunes Dylan and his band performed "Things Have Changed", "Nettie Moore", "Tangled Up in Blue", "Blind Willie McTell" and "Ballad of Hollis Brown". Dylan's performance at the Hop Farm Music Festival saw the introduction of a grand piano into his set, which he played for eight songs of his sixteen-song set.

On June 15, 2012, Dylan's official website announced eleven concerts that are to take place in August and September 2012. These shows include three concerts in Canada, where Dylan hadn't performed since November 2009. The following day a further two concerts were announced, one taking place in Billings, Montana and the other taking place in Rochester, Minnesota. On June 20 another two concerts were announced, one in Cincinnati and the other in Salisbury, Maryland. The tickets for Dylan's show in Cranbrook sold out in record time. The venue adjusted the position of the stage to add a further 250 tickets, which also sold out. On June 28, 2012 a further six concerts were announced taking place in August and early September. The August 15 concert in Billings, Montana was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

The much anticipated North American leg of the Dylan/Knopfler tour was announced via both BobDylan.com and MarkKnopfler.com on July 18, 2012, just one day after Dylan announced his 35th studio album, Tempest. The tour was met with a mixed to negative response. Many reviews complained about Dylan's decreasing vocal abilities and his lack of piano playing skills. As usual with Dylan reviews the press complained about Dylan's changing of song, beyond recognition sometimes. The tour's attendance was fairly poor with many reviews reporting fans leaving long before the concert was over. In an unprecedented move during his November 5 concert in Madison, Wisconsin, Dylan addressed the crowd, besides his normal band introduction and said: "We tried to play good tonight since the president was here today. Don't believe the media. I think it's going to be a landslide"

Performing only 86 concerts in 2012, Dylan performed the fewest shows during a year-long leg of the Never Ending Tour since 1996.

## Supporting acts

* Chicago Blues: A Living History — July 8, 2012
* Garbage — July 22, 2012
* Gossip — July 22, 2012
* Leon Russell — August 26, 2012
* The McCrary Sisters — August 26, 2012, The McCrary Sisters provided backing vocals on Blowin' in the Wind at this event
* Ben Harper — September 2, 2012
* Bob Weir — September 9, 2012
* Mark Knopfler — October 5 – November 21, 2012

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| - | - | - | - |
| Latin America ||||
| April 15, 2012 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Citibank Hall |
| April 17, 2012 | Brasília | Brazil | Nilson Nelson Gymnasium |
| April 19, 2012 | Belo Horizonte | Brazil | Chevrolet Hall |
| April 21, 2012 | São Paulo | Brazil | Credicard Hall |
| April 22, 2012 | São Paulo | Brazil | Credicard Hall |
| April 24, 2012 | Porto Alegre | Brazil | Pepsi on Stage |
| April 26, 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Teatro Gran Rex |
| April 27, 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Teatro Gran Rex |
| April 28, 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Teatro Gran Rex |
| April 30, 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Teatro Gran Rex |
| May 2, 2012 | Santiago | Chile | Movistar Arena |
| May 5, 2012 | Heredia | Costa Rica | Heredia Palacio de los Deportes |
| May 7, 2012 | Monterrey | Mexico | Auditorio Banamex |
| May 9, 2012 | Guadalajara | Mexico | Telmex Auditorium |
| May 11, 2012 | Mexico City | Mexico | Pepsi Centre WTC |
| May 12, 2012 | Mexico City | Mexico | Pepsi Centre WTC |
| Europe ||||
| June 30, 2012 | Kent | England | The Hop Farm Country Park |
| July 2, 2012 | Berlin | Germany | Zitadelle Spandau |
| July 3, 2012 | Dresden | Germany | Freilichtbühne Junge Garde |
| July 4, 2012 | Bonn | Germany | Bonn Rheinaue |
| July 6, 2012 | Bad Mergentheim | Germany | Schloss Mergentheim |
| July 7, 2012 | Salzburg | Austria | Salzburgarena |
| July 8, 2012 | Montreux | Switzerland | Auditorium Stravinski |
| July 11, 2012 | Bilbao | Spain | Guggenheim Museum Bilbao |
| July 13, 2012 | Benicàssim | Spain | Benicàssim Festival Grounds |
| July 14, 2012 | Calella | Spain | Jardín Botánico del Cap Roig Auditorium |
| July 15, 2012 | Nîmes | France | Arènes de Nîmes |
| July 16, 2012 | Barolo | Italy | Piazza Colbert |
| July 18, 2012 | Lyon | France | Théâtres Romains de Fourvière |
| July 20, 2012 | Bayonne | France | Arènes de Bayonne |
| July 22, 2012 | Carhaix | France | La Prairie de Kerampuilh |
| North America ||||
| August 10, 2012 | Lloydminster | Canada | Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds |
| August 11, 2012 | Lethbridge | Canada | ENMAX Centre |
| August 12, 2012 | Cranbrook | Canada | Cranbrook Recreational Complex |
| August 14, 2012 | Missoula | United States | Big Sky Brewery |
| August 17, 2012 | Rapid City | United States | Barnett Arena |
| August 18, 2012 | Sioux Falls | United States | Sioux Falls Arena |
| August 19, 2012 | Fargo | United States | Fargo Civic Center |
| August 21, 2012 | Rochester | United States | Taylor Arena |
| August 22, 2012 | Des Moines | United States | Wells Fargo Arena |
| August 24, 2012 | Fort Wayne | United States | Parkview Field |
| August 25, 2012 | Indianapolis | United States | The Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn |
| August 26, 2012 | Cincinnati | United States | PNC Pavilion at Riverbend |
| August 28, 2012 | Youngstown | United States | Covelli Centre |
| August 29, 2012 | Johnstown | United States | Cambria County War Memorial Arena |
| August 30, 2012 | Salisbury | United States | Wicomico Youth and Civic Center |
| September 1, 2012 | Big Flats | United States | Tag's Budweiser Summer Stage |
| September 2, 2012 | Bethel | United States | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts |
| September 4, 2012 | Port Chester | United States | Capitol Theater |
| September 6, 2012 | Lewiston | United States | Lewiston Artpark Mainstage Theater |
| September 7, 2012 | Holyoke | United States | Holyoke Mountain Park |
| September 8, 2012 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| September 9, 2012 | Hershey | United States | Star Pavilion |
| North America with Mark Knopfler ||||
| October 5, 2012 | Winnipeg | Canada | MTS Centre |
| October 6, 2012 | Regina | Canada | Brandt Centre |
| October 8, 2012 | Saskatoon | Canada | Credit Union Centre |
| October 9, 2012 | Edmonton | Canada | Rexall Place |
| October 10, 2012 | Calgary | Canada | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| October 12, 2012 | Vancouver | Canada | Rogers Arena |
| October 13, 2012 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena |
| October 15, 2012 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena |
| October 17, 2012 | San Francisco | United States | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium |
| October 18, 2012 | San Francisco | United States | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium |
| October 19, 2012 | Berkeley | United States | Hearst Greek Theatre |
| October 20, 2012 | Sacramento | United States | Power Balance Pavilion |
| October 22, 2012 | Santa Barbara | United States | Santa Barbara Bowl |
| October 24, 2012 | San Diego | United States | Valley View Casino Center |
| October 26, 2012 | Los Angeles | United States | Hollywood Bowl |
| October 27, 2012 | Las Vegas | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| October 29, 2012 | Broomfield | United States | 1stBank Center |
| October 30, 2012 | Broomfield | United States | 1stBank Center |
| November 1, 2012 | Grand Prairie | United States | Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie |
| November 2, 2012 | Tulsa | United States | BOK Center |
| November 3, 2012 | Omaha | United States | CenturyLink Center Omaha |
| November 5, 2012 | Madison | United States | Alliant Energy Center |
| November 7, 2012 | Saint Paul | United States | Xcel Energy Center |
| November 8, 2012 | Milwaukee | United States | BMO Harris Bradley Center |
| November 9, 2012 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| November 12, 2012 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena |
| November 13, 2012 | Detroit | United States | Fox Theatre |
| November 14, 2012 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| November 16, 2012 | Montreal | Canada | Bell Centre |
| November 18, 2012 | Boston | United States | TD Garden |
| November 19, 2012 | Philadelphia | United States | Wells Fargo Center |
| November 20, 2012 | Washington, D.C. | United States | Verizon Center |
| November 21, 2012 | Brooklyn | United States | Barclays Center |

### Cancellations and rescheduled shows

| April 30, 2012 | Santiago, Chile | Movistar Arena | Rescheduled to May 2, 2012. |
| - | - | - | - |
| August 15, 2012 | Billings, Montana | Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark | Cancelled due to poor ticket sales. |
| November 10, 2012 | Chicago metropolitan area | Unconfirmed venue | Cancelled before official announcement. |
| November 13, 2012 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | The Palace of Auburn Hills | Moved to the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan due to poor ticket sales. |

### Box office score data

| Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue |
| - | - | - | - |
| Citibank Hall | Rio de Janeiro | 1,283 / 2,616 (49%) | $295,055 |
| Ginasio Nilson Nelson | Brasília | 6,447 / 9,645 (69%) | $586,652 |
| Chevrolet Hall | Belo Horizonte | 5,350 / 5,380 (99%) | $416,766 |
| Credicard Hall | São Paulo | 6,845 / 7,706 (89%) | $1,129,460 |
| Pepsi On Stage | Porto Alegre | 6,324 / 6,363 (99%) | $508,117 |
| Palacio de los Deportes | Heredia | 1,977 / 2,500 (79%) | $200,222 |
| Auditorio Banamex | Monterrey | 1,217 / 6,542 (19%) | $78,111 |
| Auditorio Telmex | Guadalajara | 2,571 / 4,446 (58%) | $111,373 |
| Pepsi Center WTC | Mexico City | 2,508 / 6,496 (39%) | $135,529 |
| Big Sky Brewery | Missoula | 2,293 / 2,293 (100%) | $91,200 |
| Civic Center | Fargo | 3,056 / 3,056 (100%) | $165,024 |
| Mayo Civic Center | Rochester | 4,246 / 5,000 (85%) | $221,474 |
| Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville | 3,662 / 4,271 (86%) | $181,269 |
| Star Pavilion | Hersey | 5,205 / 8,129 (64%) | $246,862 |
| Rose Garden Arena | Portland | 4,667 / 7,477 (62%) | $361,818 |
| Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | San Francisco | 8,280 / 10,000 (83%) | $596,670 |
| Hearst Greek Theatre | Berkeley | 7,277 / 7,277 (100%) | $606,867 |
| Power Balance Pavilion | Sacramento | 3,087 / 4,500 (69%) | $229,658 |
| Santa Barbara Bowl | Santa Barbara | 4,564 / 4,564 (100%) | $421,301 |
| Valley View Casino Center | San Diego | 5,425 / 7,928 (68%) | $387,350 |
| Verizon Theatre | Grand Prairie | 3,877 / 6,001 (65%) | $301,365 |
| BOK Center | Tulsa | 3,400 / 3,400 (100%) | $245,392 |
| Xcel Energy Center | St Paul | 7,565 / 9,850 (77%) | $602,645 |
| United Center | Chicago | 6,335 / 8,021 (79%) | $532,301 |
| Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids | 3,154 / 9,946 (32%) | $234,600 |
| Air Canada Centre | Toronto | 8,935 / 9,000 (99%) | $756,894 |
| Bell Centre | Montreal | 5,706 / 6,712 (85%) | $474,894 |
| Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia | 8,564 / 10,000 (86%) | $428,951 |
| Barclays Center | Brooklyn | 9,679 / 10,931 (89%) | $844,271 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL | 143,499 / 190,050 (76%) | $11,392,091 |

## Setlists

### Song Count

| # | Song | Count |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Ballad of a Thin Man | 86 |
| 2 | Highway 61 Revisited | 86 |
| 3 | Like a Rolling Stone | 86 |
| 4 | Tangled Up in Blue | 86 |
| 5 | Thunder on the Mountain | 86 |
| 6 | All Along the Watchtower | 85 |
| 7 | Things Have Changed | 83 |
| 8 | Blowin' in the Wind | 77 |
| 9 | Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat | 42 |
| 10 | Simple Twist of Fate | 37 |
| 11 | High Water (For Charley Patton) | 35 |
| 12 | Summer Days | 34 |
| 13 | Desolation Row | 29 |
| 14 | Visions of Johanna | 28 |
| 15 | Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum | 27 |
| 16 | Rollin' And Tumblin' | 25 |
| 17 | The Levee's Gonna Break | 25 |
| 18 | A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall | 24 |
| 19 | Love Sick | 21 |
| 20 | Watching the River Flow | 21 |
| 21 | Spirit on the Water | 20 |
| 22 | Beyond Here Lies Nothin' | 17 |
| 23 | Forgetful Heart | 17 |
| 24 | Cry A While | 16 |
| 25 | Honest With Me | 16 |
| 26 | To Ramona | 16 |
| 27 | Tryin' to Get to Heaven | 16 |
| 28 | Don't Think Twice, It's All Right | 14 |
| 29 | Make You Feel My Love | 14 |
| 30 | Man in the Long Black Coat | 14 |
| 31 | Sugar Baby | 13 |
| 32 | The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll | 13 |
| 33 | Blind Willie McTell | 12 |
| 34 | It's All Over Now, Baby Blue | 12 |
| 35 | Girl from the North Country | 11 |
| 36 | I'll Be Your Baby Tonight | 11 |
| 37 | Ballad of Hollis Brown | 10 |
| 38 | Mississippi | 10 |
| 39 | You Ain't Goin' Nowhere | 10 |
| 40 | It Ain't Me Babe | 9 |
| 41 | Chimes of Freedom | 8 |
| 42 | Early Roman Kings | 7 |
| 43 | Every Grain of Sand | 7 |
| 44 | John Brown | 7 |
| 45 | Love Minus Zero/No Limit | 7 |
| 46 | Can't Wait | 6 |
| 47 | Jolene | 6 |
| 48 | This Dream Of You | 6 |
| 49 | Ain't Talkin' | 5 |
| 50 | Not Dark Yet | 5 |
| 51 | Joey | 4 |
| 52 | Shelter from the Storm | 4 |
| 53 | Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 | 3 |
| 54 | Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues | 2 |
| 55 | Soon After Midnight | 2 |
| 56 | Absolutely Sweet Marie | 1 |
| 57 | Delia | 1 |
| 58 | Dignity | 1 |
| 59 | Million Miles | 1 |
| 60 | My Back Pages | 1 |
| 61 | Nettie Moore | 1 |
| 62 | Pay in Blood | 1 |
| 63 | Saving Grace | 1 |
| 64 | Scarlet Town | 1 |
| 65 | Shadows (Gordon Lightfoot cover) | 1 |
| 66 | She Belongs to Me | 1 |
| 67 | Shooting Star | 1 |
| 68 | Sweet Home Chicago (Instrumental) | 1 |
| 69 | This Wheel's On Fire | 1 |
| 70 | Under The Red Sky | 1 |
| 71 | When the Deal Goes Down | 1 |

## Band

* Bob Dylan – Guitar, Harmonica, Organ, Piano, Vocals
* Tony Garnier – Electric bass, Upright bass
* Donnie Herron – Banjo, Electric mandolin, Lap steel, Pedal steel, Viola, Violin
* Stu Kimball – Guitar
* George Recile – Drums, percussion
* Charlie Sexton – Guitar
