When the electric guitar roared, folk and rock were never the same again
On July 25, 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan stepped onto the stage with a Fender Stratocaster in hand. This was not just a performance; it was a cultural shock. From an acoustic folk hero, Dylan suddenly broke tradition, plugging in and introducing rock energy into folk music.
The audience was split in two: one half cheered in excitement, while the other booed in anger, accusing Dylan of betraying the folk spirit. Whistles and boos clashed with cheers, creating one of the most chaotic yet pivotal moments in music history.
Dylan performed “Maggie’s Farm” and “Like a Rolling Stone” with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Every riff sounded like a declaration: music must evolve, not be imprisoned by the past. That night, Newport 1965 became a turning point, pushing Dylan into a new, bolder chapter and forever altering the course of popular music.
Looking back at these photos today, we see more than a concert – we see an artist choosing his own path, regardless of how the world reacted. Newport 1965 was the moment when freedom and reinvention became the heart of Dylan’s legacy.
🎵 Suggested listening: “Like a Rolling Stone” – the anthem of Dylan’s electric revolution.