MUSICAL legend Bob Dylan showed he was far from over the hill with an energised concert.

Affirming his status as one of the all-time greats, his audience ranged in age from 16 to 60. Dressed in a white stetson and jacket, he cut a diminutive figure on the stage, but he was all presence when he opened with Cat's in The Well, followed by the House of the Rising Sun.

The evening slowly but surely built a momentum as he hopped and bopped away at the keyboard.

As for his mouth organ-playing, he has not lost his touch. One of highlights was the performance of Masters of War. One of his old-time acoustic favourites, the anger of the piece was ratcheted up with driving rhythms from Dylan and his band.

Another exhilarating number was Desolation Row. The playlist featured a smattering of numbers off his new album, Modern Times, including a racy Rolling and Tumbling and The Levee's Gonna Break.

Dylan never spoke once, save to introduce his band members. But no one was complaining. He finished with Like a Rolling Stone, leaving the crowd baying for more.

And surprisingly they got an two-number encore, concluding with a new twist on his all Along the Watchtower.

Judging from his performance, he will be on the road for many years to come.

Gavin Engelbrecht