Julian Lage Joins Bob Dylan Band on Guitar
The New Jersey guitarist stepped in for Mike Seal at Dylan's Zurich show, after a last-minute request.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Folk
Julian Lage replaced Mike Seal on guitar in Bob Dylan's band at Zurich's Hallenstadion on Sunday. Lage had also played guitar in Dylan's band at Milan's Unipol Dome.
Why it matters
The substitution shows how Dylan's touring lineup can shift mid-tour, with Lage adjusting his own commitments to join the band on short notice. It also places a New Jersey-based guitarist inside one of the longest-running live acts in American music during a European leg of the tour.
Lage's Milan and Zurich dates mark two consecutive guitar appearances in Dylan's band, and the extraction gives no further commercial or attendance figures. The duration of his stint and Seal's status remain unconfirmed.
The players
Bob Dylan
Dylan is a Nobel Prize-winning American singer-songwriter whose decades-long career has made him one of the most influential figures in modern popular music.
Julian Lage
Lage is an American jazz and roots guitarist based in New Jersey who is known for his technical precision and wide-ranging collaborations.
Mike Seal
Seal is a guitarist who had recently joined Dylan's band in fall 2026 before being replaced by Lage at the Zurich show.
The details
Lage joined Dylan after receiving a last-minute request while honoring his own commitments, and he commuted between Europe and the US this summer to make the appearances. The Zurich show also saw Joel Paterson join the band during the lineup changes, alongside longtime bassist Tony Garnier and drummer Anton Fig.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Lage commuted between Europe and the US to join Dylan's tour.
November 1, 2026: Lage replaced Mike Seal at Zurich's Hallenstadion.
November 2, 2026: Lage played guitar at Milan's Unipol Dome.
November 5, 2026: Dylan is scheduled to perform at Rome's Palazzo dello Sport.
January 29, 2027: Lage's next confirmed solo gig is at Kansas City's Folly Theater.
Industry Dynamics
Dylan's willingness to revive rarely played material such as "High Water," last performed on October 9, 2018, reflects a long-running pattern in which his tours rotate older songs into the set. This placement fits the broader practice of treating touring lineups as flexible ensembles rather than fixed bands.
Fans in Europe can see Dylan's band with Lage on guitar at the remaining shows, including the Rome date on November 5. Lage's own solo dates, starting with January 29 in Kansas City, give audiences a separate way to hear him perform.
The takeaway
Touring lineups like Dylan's can change quickly, and the musicians who fill those roles often balance them against separate careers. Following an artist's solo dates alongside a band's schedule gives a fuller picture of where they are performing.
What happens next
Dylan's European leg continues at Rome's Palazzo dello Sport on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and Lage's next confirmed solo performance is January 29, 2027, at Kansas City's Folly Theater.
Further reading
For more on the artists shaping this genre, browse the Folk section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Relix Media.
