(Honesdale, April 11, 2016)…Amy Helm, often described as an exceptionally soulful singer/songwriter and a member of the so-called Woodstock tribe of musicians in nearby New York state, will headline the 11th annual Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival on June 18th.
Helm, who has been a musician in her own right all her life, is the daughter of musical legends: singer/songwriter Libby Titus (she wrote “Love Has No Pride”) and the late musical icon Levon Helm, drummer/vocalist for The Band (“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight”). After decades of playing with bands such as the altcountry Ollabelle and with her father, Helm put out her first solo album, “Didn’t It Rain,” in July of last year.
“I’m just trying to tell stories as honestly as I can,” Amy said of her debut recording, and Roots & Rhythm attendees are sure to hear that in her performance this June.
“Amy Helm is without doubt a star,” says Randy Kohrs, music coordinator for Roots & Rhythm. “She gives a dynamite live performance that really draws in her listeners. I think folks will remember Amy long after the proverbial curtain comes down and the lights go out.”
Honesdale Roots & Rhythm is a free family-entertainment event in Honesdale’s Central Park that includes not only the main stage lineup of bands, but artisan wares for sale by the artists themselves, food vendors, and activities for children. Tunes & Tales offers hands-on demonstrations and storytelling on the grass between the Central United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church, adjacent to Central Park. And before the main stage kicks off at 1:30pm, local bands will entertain shoppers and pedestrians all along Main Street from 10:30am to 1:00pm.
Kohrs says Roots & Rhythm will also offer several workshops around the festival, including a music workshop the night before at Basin and Main, 564 Main Street, with Two-Thirds Goat, a bluesy country band that will also take the main stage on Saturday.
“We have also booked Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles,” says Kohrs, adding, “We have a lot going on this year, look for future announcements.”
Honesdale Roots & Rhythm, a non-profit, “green” event, is produced by volunteers and always looking for more volunteers. For more information about Amy Helm, visit www.amyhelm.com.