“Going Electric: Bob Dylan ’65” traces the lead-up to Dylan’s infamous set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival — one of the most controversial and influential moments in the history of popular music. Through never-before-seen original manuscripts, film footage and rare artifacts from the Bob Dylan Archive as well as numerous loans from private collectors, “Going Electric” places visitors at the heart of Dylan’s evolution from acoustic folk hero to trailblazing rock ’n’ roll icon. Michael Bloomfiel

“Going Electric: Bob Dylan ’65,” on view in the Parker Brothers Gallery through Spring 2026, explores the musical landscape in which Dylan created some of his most adventurous albums and songs. His decision to plug in didn’t happen in a vacuum — it unfolded within a moment when popular music itself was rapidly shifting. Our new video takes a closer look at this environment, placing Dylan’s transformation in dialogue with the artists who were actively reshaping the sound of the era. As the exhibi