Capping off a triumphant three-year comeback, The Levon Helm Band has an active summer planned with festival gigs from New Orleans Jazzfest to Newport Folk Festival (with four more in between, see artist page). But the really special appearance will be at Mountain Jam on June 6, when the former drummer/vocalist from The Band will celebrate his 70th birthday on stage with an all-star lineup of his friends.
Mountain Jam announced the first batch of Helm's friends and also added a big name in Alison Krauss and Union Station with Jerry Douglas, supplementing an impressive lineup that was rolled out last week.
The birthday celebration will close out the festival on Sunday night and will feature some artists making an appearance solely to honor Helm and others who are otherwise scheduled to appear. In the first group are Ray LaMontagne, Steve Earle, Jackie Greene and legendary producer David Hood. The latter group consists of festival host Warren Haynes, Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood (son of David Hood), and country singer-songwriter Allison Moorer (wife of Steve Earle). More "friends" are yet to be announced.
Alison Krauss & Union Station will return to the stage in a limited run in 2010, including a highly anticipated stop at Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The long-running contemporary traditional band, which played a key role in the renewed popular interest in bluegrass music, has not toured since 2007.
AKUS will appear with featured sideman, dobroist Jerry Douglas, who will also play with his own band and as a member of the Telluride House Band at the festival. The bookings mark the 12th appearance at Telluride by Krauss, beginning in 1989. Douglas will celebrate his 26th appearance at the festival. The 2010 festival, running June 17-20 at Town Park in Telluride CO, will be the 37th year for the influential roots festival.
Also new to the 2010 lineup since our last update: The Del McCoury Band and Carolina Chocolate Drops. With all the festival's regulars—Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Yonder Mountain and others—already on board, the return of AKUS gives added marquee luster for TBF 2010.
Alison Krauss & Union Station will return to the stage in a limited run in 2010, including a highly anticipated stop at Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The long-running contemporary traditional band, which played a key role in the renewed popular interest in bluegrass music, has not toured since 2007.