Bob Dylan performs “I Shall Be Released” for the first time in 18 years during a recent stop on his touring schedule. Multiple outlets report the appearance of the song after a long gap, describing it as a deep cut drawn from the “Basement Tapes” material. The performance fits into Dylan’s broader pattern of incorporating tracks from those sessions into his summer setlists. Stereogum also places the moment within the context of Dylan’s ongoing “Rough and Rowdy Ways” Tour, noting that he continues to introduce lesser-known recordings and rarely played material at different shows. In the same tour run, Stereogum says Dylan previously debuted “Baby, Will You Be My Baby,” a track recorded in 1967 that was not officially released until 2014, for the first time ever. NME similarly frames the “I Shall Be Released” performance as a notable return after nearly two decades away, but does not add additional details beyond its occurrence and connection to his Basement Tapes-focused set choices.