The Bob Dylan Center proudly presents “Red Dirt Boogie: A Concert Tribute to Jesse Ed Davis,” a one-night-only celebration of the late Indigenous guitar hero’s expansive musicality and enduring influence. Taking place on Thursday, February 6 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, this star-studded performance features an electrifying roster of former Davis collaborators and admirers, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jackson Browne, three-term U.S. Poet Laureate and Bob Dylan Center Artist-in-Residence Joy Harjo, four-time Grammy Award winner and Blues Hall of Fame member Taj Mahal, and the reunited members of The Grafitti Band—whose landmark release aka Grafitti Man was once hailed by Bob Dylan as his favorite album. They will be joined onstage by Gary Gilmore, Bob Glaub, and Garrett Ray for a rare reunion of musicians who backed Davis and helped shape his unique legacy.
From his instantly recognizable lead guitar on Jackson Browne’s top-ten single “Doctor My Eyes” to his years-long collaboration with Taj Mahal, Jesse Ed Davis (1944–1988) was a pivotal, genre-crossing talent whose credits include work with Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and more. A proud member of the Kiowa Nation, Davis’s cultural roots will be honored at the concert’s opening as drummers and singers from the Kiowa Nation perform a traditional honor song—a moving tribute to his heritage. During the show, audiences will also be treated to a brief reading by Tulsa-based filmmaker and MacArthur Fellow Sterlin Harjo, who will share what Davis’s music has meant to him as a fellow Native American artist.
Produced in conjunction with the Bob Dylan Center’s exhibition “Jesse Ed Davis: Natural Anthem,” on view through April 27, 2025, the tribute highlights Davis’s trailblazing career and influence on 1970s rock, blues, and beyond. “We intend for this evening to do full justice to Jesse’s remarkable artistry and lasting impact,” says Steven Jenkins, director of the Bob Dylan Center. “While Jesse left us far too early nearly 40 years ago, his music and spirit live on, and I can’t wait to hear what Jackson, Joy, Taj, and The Grafitti Band have in store.”
Tickets are on sale to Bob Dylan Center members now. Prices range from $30 to $150, with a variety of packages and benefits available. For more information, to become a member, and to stay informed on ticket releases, visit bobdylancenter.com and subscribe to the newsletter. Don’t miss this powerful tribute to a truly singular artist whose legacy endures through some of the most memorable music in rock history.
