Amy Helm and The Handsome Strangers
A member of the acclaimed folk music group Ollabelle and daughter of music icon Levon Helm, Amy Helm will make her Lyric debut with her band The Handsome Strangers, comprised of bassist Byron Isaacs from the Midnight Ramble Band, guitarist Dan Littleton and drummer David Berger. Amy Helm has started her solo career with a bang following the release of her debut record Didn't It Rain. A remarkable songwriter and a powerful singer, Helm commands any stage she performs on, captivating audiences with her soulful voice. With a successful career as a performer in groups such as the Levon Helm Band, the Dirt Farmer Band, and the Midnight Ramble Band, Amy Helm now amazes audiences with music that is both intimate and universal.
Inspired by the music of her father, the legendary drummer of The Band, Levon Helm, and her mother, the American singer and songwriter Libby Titus, Amy Helm began performing in bars throughout Manhattan when she was a young teenager. After stints in a number of different groups, Amy's father, Levon, invited her to play in his band. Finding her confidence on the road, Amy Helm went on to form Ollabelle, a multi-genre, multi-instrumentalist folk group out of New York. The group was met with great critical acclaim, featured on NPR's All Things Considered in 2004 and invited to participate in Alison Krauss' national Great High Mountain Tour. A prolific artist, Amy also co-produced her father's 2007 comeback album, Dirt Farmer, which earned the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album, and helped organize the famous Midnight Ramble concerts at Levon's studio in Woodstock, New York.
Amy Helm's first solo release, Didn't It Rain, is a highly personal and heartfelt debut album. The album was recorded and edited during a very trying period of Helm's life, with the passing of her father, Levon Helm, in 2012. In addition to Levon's role as producer of Didn't It Rain, the legendary musician's distinctive drumming is featured on three tracks. Ollabelle bandmate, Byron Isaacs, and Little Feet keyboardist, Bill Payne, also accompany Amy on her debut recording, with tracks including Sam Cooke's "Good News" and the title track, "Didn't It Rain," a powerful gospel song. Amy Helm and The Handsome Strangers will perform songs from her debut album and more this April on The Lyric stage.