Ollabelle: 'Ollabelle' 20th Anniversary

Join Ollabelle as they return to Levon Helm Studios to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, Ollabelle, released in March of 2004. Produced by T Bone Burnett and released on his own Sony imprint, the release of Ollabelle changed the blueprint of roots and Americana music in the 21st century.

What once began as a collective of musicians gathering on the Lower East Side of post-9/11 New York City now enters 2024 a supergroup. But for years they were everyone’s favorite group in waiting: Ollabelle. Like The Byrds, The Band, and Fairport Convention before them, Ollabelle reconfigured roots music. In their case, by taking early American gospel, folk and mountain music and dragging it into the future with the utmost respect and the utmost abandon. Imagine Sun Ra’s music played by The Staple Singers. Or The Doc Watson's music played by Sun Ra. Their music has always been joyful, accessible and exhilarating, and has earned them the respect of fellow musicians: Richard Thompson booked them for Britain’s Meltdown Festival; Elvis Costello, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, Larry Campbell and Levon Helm (Amy’s father, and the spiritual godfather of Ollabelle) all took turns sitting in with them in clubs and concert halls around the world, and their residencies at Banjo Jim’s, Levon’s Ramble and City Winery often took on the energy of being present at The Last Waltz. There was nothing they couldn’t do well, and there was no one who didn’t want to share the stage with them. At one memorable gig on the lower east side, in a packed and dingy room, Dr. John, Levon Helm, Norah Jones, and Donald Fagen were all crowded around the stage, cheering them on.

Ollabelle may be a part of their past. But it’s also an inescapable part of their future. Please welcome... Ollabelle.

Ollabelle is: Tony Leone Glenn Patscha Byron Isaacs Fiona McBain Amy Helm