Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson turned the Hollywood Bowl into a haven for Americana and country on Friday night, as the two legends brought the Outlaw Music Festival back to the storied venue for the second year in a row.

Dylan went on just as dusk settled, and the stage lit up like a noir rodeo, revealing Dylan’s signature piano. He and his band — dressed in black like outlaw undertakers — opened with a swaggering “Things Have Changed.”

The stage setup was simple: An image of a peaceful mountain lake backdrop that resembled a fancy water bottle label, blending well with the surrounding Hollywood Hills, and a crowd full of cowboy hats and rhinestones.

Opening for Dylan and Nelson Friday night were bluegrass stars Sierra Hull and Billy Strings, while upcoming Outlaw Fest 2025 tour stops will rotate in acts like Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, and Nathaniel Rateliff. Outlaw lineups...