Bob Dylan Blackbushe Aerodrome 1978
Support: Eric Clapton and Band, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker and The Rumour, and Lake
Demand for Dylan’s run of concerts at Earls Court in 1978 was so high that a massive open air show was added. At first I wasn’t sure whether to go and see him again, but in the end I couldn’t resist going along. I travelled down on my own, but ran into a group of friends when I arrived at the gig. They had a spot pretty close to the front, so I joined them there. The attendance at this event was huge. I think it was something like 250,000 people. There were people everywhere. And the line up was very strong indeed. Dylan was supported by Eric Clapton and Band (I think Clapton also played with Dylan for part of the set?), Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker and The Rumour, and Lake. I don’t recall much about the supports, other than Clapton, who went down well with the crowd. It was a hot day, and a great atmosphere. 
Dylan performed a set which was similar to that he performed at Earls Court. I remember him wearing a top hat, and that there was a long wait before he took to the stage. The sound wasn’t too great, and if you were at the back of the arena, I suspect you will have seen very little, particularly as there were no screens. We were quite close to the front, and had a good view, so I really enjoyed the event. After the gig I spent hours in queues to get the train back across London, and start my journey home. I later learnt that my friend John had also gone down to the gig on his own, neither of us realising that the other was going. Setlist: My Back Pages (Instrumental); Love Her With A Feeling; Baby Stop Crying; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; Shelter From The Storm; It’s All Over Now Baby Blue; Girl From The North Country; Ballad Of A Thin Man; Maggie’s Farm; Simple Twist Of Fate; Like A Rolling Stone; I Shall Be Released; Is Your Love In Vain?; Where Are You Tonight?; A Change Is Gonna Come (Carolyn Dennis vocal); Mr. Tambourine Man (Helena Springs vocal); The Long And Winding Road (Jo Ann Harris vocal); What Would We Do If No One’s Dreams Came True? (Steven Soles vocal); Gates Of Eden; True Love Tends To Forget; One More Cup Of Coffee; Blowin’ In The Wind; I Want You; Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power); Masters Of War; Just Like A Woman; Ramona; Don’t Think Twice (It’s Alright); All Along The Watchtower; All I Really Want To Do; It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding); Forever Young. Encores: Changing Of The Guards; The Times They Are A-Changin’
10 Oct
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by ken connor on January 4, 2013 at 10:30 pm
a fantastic day. graham parker was great too. yes, clapton came out for a few numbers. he also brought out another guitar player. my mate says it was stevie ray vaughan. anyone know?
Posted by vintagerock on January 5, 2013 at 7:34 am
I have no recollection of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing. He is someone I always regret never seeing. I once had a ticket to see him, but the gig was cancelled. It would be strange if I had seen him after all.
Posted by ken connor on January 5, 2013 at 9:08 pm
that’s how i feel about it too, so thanks for this even though it isn’t conclusive. i recall bob saying something about bringing out a guitarist “you probably don’t know yet, but you will…” so, who was it then?? i probably smoked too much of that wacky baccy that day.
Posted by Huw Davies on February 3, 2017 at 11:44 pm
Hi I was there with my girlfriend Sian ‘to be my wife in 1980’ and friends Laurence & Lindsey , big Bob Dylan fan Joan Armatrading was fab , not a well known name at the time . We stood on layers of beer cans ‘ Breaker or Colt 45’ probably with binoculars to see the stage . Drove in a Morris marina qqqerd and queued to get out. Fab times.
Posted by Ken Connor on February 4, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Huw, see my question above. Who was the mystery guitar player that Bob brought out. I know he brought Eric Clapton out, but who was it before that? My friend swears it was Stevie Ray Vaughan.
what do you say?
Posted by Ermanno Labianca on April 11, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Surely Clapton played with Bob during Bob’s set. i was there.
Posted by Ken Connor on April 12, 2018 at 12:45 pm
I was there. Eric came out and played with Bob. Bob also brought out another guitarist too, saying something like, “ you won’t know him yet but you will soon”. My friend says it was Stevie Ray Vaughan. I have posted this on a few website but never get a response. Is this false memory syndrome? Who was the mystery guitarist?
Posted by invictamoto on August 10, 2019 at 9:26 pm
Was there too with my ex-wife Sheila. We lived in Camberley so it was a short ride on my new Suzuki GT250!
Couldn’t move for all the people. Biggest crowd I have been in ever.
Fantastic day. Glad someone has written it up.
Posted by M Jones on March 1, 2019 at 7:24 pm
I was there, I really enjoyed it, memories came back after dropping daughter & friend off for the Ultra concert at Cape Town.
Posted by Trevor on August 15, 2020 at 1:02 am
Yes I was there hitch hiked from Southampton the day before. My ticket is still up in my sister’s Barbara shop in a small village called Whitworth, I am now living the dream in Aus. It was a great couple of days.
Posted by vintagerock on August 15, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Great days Trevor great memories. Keep hold of them Best wishes Peter
Posted by Bryan Jones on October 16, 2022 at 8:36 pm
I attended with friends & was staggered by the size of the crowd. We had no chance of even seeing the stage. We walked to the back of the stage & sat in the sun. Security opened the large corrugated iron gates to eject some people & we just walked in. We chatted to the lovely Joan Armatrading & mixed with Clapton & the two young women he was with…twins! Dylan walked right past us resplendent in top hat, on his way to the stage. Saw little of the stage show but heard everything. What a day!
Posted by vintagerock on October 17, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Sounds great Bryan thanks for sharing. So jealous that you got to meet everyone! Respect. Happy days Peter
Posted by patrolnoisily663ad25886 on November 6, 2024 at 7:37 pm
A great day! Apart from the fantastic music, my main memory is being left stuck in the car park till almost dawn. Then driving back to Watford for an hour’s sleep before heading south again for The British F1 Grand Prix on the Sunday.
Posted by vintagerock on November 7, 2024 at 11:56 am
Happy days. Great memories. Thank you for sharing Peter