Jeff Slate & Friends will kick off Tulsa's World of Bob Dylan Conference, with a headline performance at the city's first annual Switchyard Festival, on Wednesday, May 31, held in conjunction with the Conference at the University of Tulsa, beginning the following day.
The show, at Tulsa's legendary Cain's Ballroom, will kick off a host of musical activities and keynote addresses.
In addition, on Friday, June 2, Jeff Slate will host an “in conversation” with Margo Price, which will be the keynote address of 2023s World of Bob Dylan Conference.
Jeff Slate & Friends are the premiere New York City band performing shows that combine sets honoring the legends of Classic Rock with original music inspired by those artists.
For over a decade, Jeff Slate & Friends have played to sold out crowds paying tribute to artists like John Lennon, David Bowie and more, played by musicians who have worked with artists as diverse as Pete Townshend, Ozzy Osbourne and Mott the Hoople. The band’s Weekend Wilburys show – honoring the music of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne’s ELO and Roy Orbison – has wowed crowds across the country.
Bandleader Jeff Slate, who came up in the 1980s post-punk scene, and made his name working with his band The Badge and The Who’s Pete Townshend in the 1990s and 00s, is a world-class frontman and songwriter. He has appeared on stage and worked with music legends like Townshend, Jeff Tweedy and Sheryl Crow, and his music has appeared in advertising and films, and on television, including in the hit show Gossip Girl.
Jeff appeared at the University of Tulsa’s inaugural World of Bob Dylan conference in 2019, where he interviewed The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn live on stage and performed with the legend. His writing can be found in The New Yorker, Esquire, the Wall Street Journal, where last year he interviewed Bob Dylan, and Rolling Stone, among others.
Jeff is also a regular guest host on SiriusXM, is the co-author of the 2017 book The Authorized Roy Orbison, with the late-legend’s sons, and has written liner notes for albums by Orbison, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, among many others.
Jeff’s fourth solo album, The Last Day of Summer, featuring Dave Stewart, Duff McKagan, Earl Slick and members of Paul Weller’s band and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, is due out later this year.