Bob Dylan, who had achieved his popularity in the folk music community with acoustic performances, created what some would call the "electric Dylan controversy' at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.http://www.bob-dylan.com/moderntimes/etc/peterstonebrown_newport.html

1965 was Dylan's third year at the festival. In 1963, he had performed songs such as Blowin' in the Wind and We Shall Overcome with musicians such as Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. In 1964 his music had evolved to songs of a less political and more personal nature, like Mr. Tambourine Man.http://www.bob-dylan.com/moderntimes/etc/peterstonebrown_newport.html

When Bob Dylan took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival, on Sunday night, July 25, 1965, no one suspected what was about to happen. Rather than performing in the expected Bob Dylan style, he played Maggie's Farm with an electric guitar - a Fender Stratocaster. While Dylan was heavily criticized within the folk community for abandoning his folk roots, the performance is often cited by music historians as one of the seminal moments in both the genres of folk and rock. http://liquidblue.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/utilities.sale/day/109.html

In 1963, he had performed songs such as Blowin' in the Wind and We Shall Overcome with musicians such as Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. In 1964 his music had evolved to songs of a less political and more personal nature, like Mr. Tambourine Man.http://www.bob-dylan.com/moderntimes/etc/peterstonebrown_newport.html

Dylan had selected three members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Mike Bloomfield on guitar, Sam Lay on drums, and Jerome Arnold on bass. He had also recruited pianist Barry Goldberg. Having previously informed Al Kooper of his intentions for the next day's performance, Dylan and his hastily organized band rehearsed through the night.Queens University: Dylan Goes Electric

• Bob Dylan
• Pete Seeger
• Paul Butterfield Band
• Peter, Paul & Mary
• Gordon Lightfoot
• Joan Baez
• Ian and Sylvia
• Phil Ochs
• Tom Paxton
• Lightning Hopkins
• Mississippi John Hurt
• Son House
• Incredible String Band
• Cousin Emmy
• Sea Island Singers