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Bob Dylan<\/a> shook things up on Monday when he debuted a new touring lineup\u00a0during his concert at Austin, Texas’ Moody Amphitheater.<\/p>\n Chicago-based jazz and blues guitarist Joel Paterson entered the fold, taking the place of Bob Britt, who announced his abrupt exit<\/a> from Dylan’s touring band earlier this week. “I was not fired but left of my own accord for reasons I would prefer to keep private,” Britt\u00a0announced<\/a> on Monday. “I will miss my band mates and crew.”<\/p>\n Britt’s exit followed the quiet departure of guitarist Doug Lancio earlier this month.\u00a0Lancio’s recent replacement, Julian Lage, likewise did not perform with Dylan on Monday as he had a prior engagement in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n It’s anyone’s guess how long Dylan’s current touring lineup will last. But\u00a0with\u00a0Britt’s departure seemingly permanent, here’s what you need to know about Paterson as he holds down six-string duties on the Long Hot Summer tour.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Bob Dylan Albums Ranked Worst to Best<\/a><\/p>\n Paterson’s website<\/a> says the following: “Originally from Madison, WI, guitar and steel guitar wizard Joel Paterson has been a mainstay of the Chicago roots music scene for over\u00a020 years, playing with many bands and showcasing his unique blend of jazz, blues, rockabilly, country and western swing.”<\/p>\n The guitarist has a weekly Monday residency at Chicago’s Green Mill Cocktail Lounge with his Joel Paterson Quartet; he also plays with his own jazz trio and Chicago honky tonk stalwarts the Western Elstons.<\/p>\n Paterson’s deft playing, inspired by the likes of Les Paul and Chet Atkins, has also made him a popular social media figure in guitar circles. As of June 2026, he’s amassed more than 32,000 followers on Instagram, with\u00a0multiple\u00a0videos exceeding 100,000 views. You can see his cover of Hank Garland and Vaughn Horton’s “Sugar-Foot Rag” below.<\/p>\n Paterson’s excellent guitar chops are on full display on his 2017 album\u00a0Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar<\/em>, which features jazzy, meticulously multi-tracked guitar renditions of holiday classics. The record was featured in\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/a><\/em>‘s 2018 Christmas album roundup, receiving a “fantastic” verdict.<\/p>\n The following year, Paterson gained more attention for his guitar-centric, genre-hopping Beatles<\/a> covers album,\u00a0Let It Be\u00a0Guitar! (Joel Paterson Plays the Beatles)<\/em>. His\u00a0deep dives into the Fab Four’s diverse catalog have yielded constant new discoveries \u2014 and this spirit of exploration likely makes him even more qualified to play with a legend such as Dylan.<\/p>\n “As far as the Beatles are concerned, I’ve been listening to their music my whole life,”\u00a0Paterson told Guitar.com<\/a> in 2020. “When I started playing guitar, I was so fixated on the identity of learning to play lead guitar and the blues that it never dawned on me to play the Beatles’ music. But I’ve noticed that every time you come back to the Beatles, you start a new relationship with their music. It’s like you rediscover them about a million times over the course of your life and there\u2019s always something new.”<\/p>\n They helped push rock into fun and interesting places \u2013 and they’ll still be out there doing it in the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nJoel Paterson’s Resume:\u00a0Beatles Covers, Christmas Records and Chicago Residencies<\/h3>\n
Watch Joel Paterson Play Hank Garland and Vaughn Horton’s ‘Sugar-Foot Rag’<\/h3>\n
Listen to Joel Paterson Cover the Beatles’ ‘Honey Pie’<\/h3>\n
The Oldest Rockers on Tour This Summer<\/h2>\n