JACKSON &045; Forty-one years ago &045; at the height of the Cuban missile crisis &045; Bob Dylan wrote &uot;A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.&uot;

On Saturday, the rock prophet’s forecast was literally fulfilled as storms dumped two inches of rain ahead of his show at Jackson’s Jubilee Jam. But the skies cleared in time for Dylan and his band to whirl through classics like &uot;Maggies Farm&uot; and &uot;Like a Rolling Stone,&uot; as well as songs from his latest album, &uot;Love and Theft.&uot;

Fans young and old crowded a soggy infield before the stage, while thousands more filled Capitol Street to hear the legendary poet and songwriter, whose music continues to inspire generations.

Departing for a night from his iconic image at center stage with a guitar, Dylan instead played piano and harmonica from stage left throughout the show.

Still, the sound was full of strings, as band members Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton delivered spellbinding guitar solos on &uot;Highway 61 Revisited&uot; and &uot;All Along the Watchtower.&uot;

Other Saturday performers included

two-time Grammy winning bluesman Keb’ Mo’ and Jackson jazz singer Cassandra Wilson. A three-day event held each May, Jubilee Jam has grown steadily since its inception in 1987.

The festival attracted more than 70,000 concert-goers in 1999, and is second only to the State Fair in attendance.