Guitarist Julian Lage rejoined Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour on 6 July 2026 at the Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, Minnesota, after being absent for the previous five shows. His unexpected return, alongside newcomer Joel Paterson, marks the latest twist in a summer marred by unusual instability in Dylan's guitar section, and it matters because it leaves fans and observers unsure who will actually be on stage at any given show.

The upheaval began when Lage left after a 26 June concert in Albuquerque for a separate event in New York, missing the following show in Austin. Guitarist Doug Lancio had already departed unexplained, and Bob Britt then quit with a "Sayonara Bobby" Facebook post, leaving Chicago blues and jazz player Joel Paterson to make his Dylan debut backed only by bassist Tony Garnier and drummer Anton Fig. Despite the churn, Dylan's set list has stayed fairly consistent, though he has dropped "All Along the Watchtower". Lage's own touring commitments in Europe suggest he will miss several upcoming Dylan dates, leaving his longer-term involvement uncertain.