Slow train coming

He’s finally coming to Taiwan. Bob Dylan is scheduled to perform at the Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋) on April 3.

Tickets go on sale at noon on Monday, according to the show’s promoter, Very Aspect Culture Group (有象文化), and will be available through books.com.tw and at all 7-Eleven ibon kiosks.

Rumors of a Dylan concert in Taiwan surfaced in 2005, when the American music icon and folk legend was supposedly considering an invitation by the former Taipei County Government (now the New Taipei City Government) to perform at the annual Ho Hai Yan Rock Festival (海洋音樂祭). Needless to say, it didn’t happen.

Then last year was supposed to be Dylan’s debut appearance in Taiwan, as part of an Asian tour with dates in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

But Dylan canceled the tour after China’s government denied him permission to perform there. The international media picked up on the story, with many outlets speculating that China’s Ministry of Culture was still reeling after Icelandic pop singer Bjork’s controversial 2008 concert in Shanghai, in which she shouted “Tibet! Tibet!” during her song Declare Independence.

After his Taipei concert, Dylan is scheduled to perform in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, according to the fan site boblinks.com, which is a nonofficial but well-established source for concert news and information on the singer.

And hopefully for fans, Chinese authorities will realize they have little to worry about with the 69-year-old rocker, who has long moved on from his folk-protest days and rarely engages in banter with the audience.

Not that his shows are lacking. Dylan, who plays an average of 100 concerts a year, is known for often recasting both old and new material with fresh arrangements, and for his top-notch backing band.

Taipei is the start of Dylan’s tour in Asia, which also includes shows in Vietnam, Singapore and Australia throughout April.