Levon Helm’s “Ramble” Comes to PBS

Sept. 2008 concert in Nashville gets national airing.

By Blurt Staff

On most Saturday nights since January 2004, Levon Helm has hosted evenings of music at the "barn," his home studio in Woodstock, New York. These magical nights are called The Midnight Ramble Sessions. On September 17, 2008, Helm took the Midnight Ramble on the road to one of America's treasured venues, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, where -- accompanied by guests who include Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow and Sam Bush -- the Levon Helm Band gave birth to a night of stage magic. Captured in pristine high definition Levon Helm - Ramble At The Ryman is part of special programming airing on PBS in August 2009 (check local listings).

The performance features tunes from Helm's tenure with The Band, as well as selections from the 2008's Dirt Farmer and classics from artists such as Chuck Berry, the Carter Family and more. (Helm recently released his new album Electric Dirt (Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard.)

The Ryman taping came on the heels of Dirt Farmer, Helm's first solo recording in 25 years, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone hailed his Midnight Ramble as "2008's Best Jam Session" and the Americana Music Association bestowed on him the Artist of the Year Award.

See below for a preview clip of the PBS program.

Songs featured in the broadcast:

"Ophelia"
"Back to Memphis
"Fannie Mae"
"Baby Scratch My Back"
"Evangeline"
"No Depression in Heaven"
"Wide River to Cross"
"Deep Elem Blues"
"Rag Mama Rag"
"Time Out for the Blues"
"The Shape I'm In"
"The Weight"