BONUS TRACKS: Uncertainty at Levon Helm Studios, New Willie Carlisle LP Produced by Tyler Childers, and More Roots Music News
Breaking news out of Woodstock, New York this week illuminated deep fissions among the ownership of Levon Helm Studios. Levon, of course, was a beloved, co-founding member of The Band and established this space, affectionately just known as The Barn, in 1975. In the early 2000s, as he was
Black News 
Breaking news out of Woodstock, New York this week illuminated deep fissions among the ownership of Levon Helm Studios. Levon, of course, was a beloved, co-founding member of The Band and established this space, affectionately just known as The Barn, in 1975. In the early 2000s, as he was recovering from throat cancer, he and daughter Amy Helm — a renowned songwriter and vocalist in her own right (ND Session) — launched The Midnight Ramble, a regular concert jam hosted at The Barn that featured Levon on drums and a rotating cast of vocalists and guest musicians. These Rambles, helped pay for not only Levon's healthcare bills, but also the repair work that The Barn needed after a previous fire. They also provided the necessary financial stability to keep The Barn a viable musical space into the future.
Since Levon's passing in 2012, Amy has held 40% ownership in Levon Helm Studios and has been the primary caretaker of the The Barn and her father's legacy. This week, however, The Overlook reported that "shareholders removed Amy Helm from management on May 26 and later appointed [Brian Parillo] chief executive officer." According to the nonprofit, independent news source serving the Catskills, Parillo now controls 60% of the company’s voting power (as opposed to ownership) after Levon's second wife, Sandra “Sandy” Helm, and shareholder Barbara O’Brien transferred their voting rights to him. With majority voting rights, he then removed Amy from her managerial position.
The feature at The Overlook goes into greater detail of the turmoil and history of The Barn, but social media moves quickly. Amy was the first to share on her pages, even before the story was published.
However, Parillo shared his thoughts from the official Levon Helm Studios account, as well.
Many musicians have already come out in support of Amy, with others already canceling their performances at The Barn.
To read more about the magic made at The Barn, check out this in-depth reporting from Anne Margaret Daniel from the Summer 2016 "Homegrown" issue of No Depression.
In other drama in the roots music world, a band called Twin Temple said they were booted from opening for Charley Crockett's current tour due to their "satanic imagery." Crockett, whose latest album, Clovis, was released digitally in April. responded with a lengthy statement on social media, which read in part, "God is the fabric that ties all life together. No need to even define or institutionalize it." Although he has since deleted his social media accounts, more information can be found at Billboard and Stereogum. As for Twin Temple, Jack White caught wind of the situation and invited them to open for him at his show in Los Angeles in September.
Willi Carlisle announced a new record titled The Universal Bubba, featuring Tyler Childers as a first-time producer. The 17-track album, which spans more than an hour, was recorded in a shotgun house in New Orleans and is due out November 6 via Signature Sounds. Check out lead single "The Mason Jar at the Center of the World" now.
The FreshGrass Foundation, No Depression's nonprofit publisher, announced that Lucinda Williams will be performing a special show at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts as part of her World's Gone Wrong tour. The gig takes place October 2 and tickets are on sale now. Read more about Williams her her new record, World's Gone Wrong, in this ND feature.
The Polaris Music Prize, Canada's most prestigious music award for Canadian artists, announced its shortlist of nominees this week. Although not all roots music, we've marked those who are with an asterisk and/or shared links to current and previous coverage.
Angine de Poitrine - Vol. II
Aquakultre - 1783
Begonia - Fantasy Life
Bibi Club - Amaro
* Charlotte Cornfield - Hurts Like Hell (ND review)
* Beverly Glenn-Copeland - Laughter In Summer
Rochelle Jordan - Through The Wall
Les Louanges - Alouette!
Peaches - No Lube So Rude
* Tanya Tagaq - Saputjiji (ND feature)
In other awards news, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) also shared their nominees for the 37th annual awards program. Highlights are copied below and the full list is available on the IBMA website.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Sister Sadie
East Nash Grass
The Del McCoury Band
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Broken Angels”
Artist: The Grascals and Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson
Producer: Kent Wells
Label: Billy Blue Records
“Can’t Outrun the Blues”
Artist: Trey Hensley
Songwriters: Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes
Producer: Brent Maher
Label: Pinecastle Records
“New Cluck Old Hen”
Artist: Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Feat. Della Mae)
Arrangement: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records
“Cost of Living”
Artist: Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Edisonic Records
“Finding Your Way Home”
Artist: Red Camel Collective
Songwriters: Heather Berry Mabe/Joseph Scott Patrick
Producer: Red Camel Collective/Stephen Burwell
Label: Pinecastle Records
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Can’t Outrun the Blues
Artist: Trey Hensley
Producer: Brent Maher
Label: Pinecastle Records
All Will Be Well
Artist: Sister Sadie
Producer: Deanie Richardson
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
All God’s Children
Artist: East Nash Grass
Producers: Jake Stargel/East Nash Grass
Label: Mountain Fever Records
Della Jane’s Heart
Artist: Appalachian Road Show
Producer: Appalachian Road Show
Label: Billy Blue Records
Songs That Sing Me
Artist: Becky Buller
Producer: Stephen Mougin
Label: Dark Shadow Recording
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jaelee Roberts
Mason Via
Carson Peters & Iron Mountain
Vickie Vaughn
Daniel Grindstaff & the Uptown Troubadours
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Byron Berline
Nashville Bluegrass Band
Barry Poss
The Lost & Found
Andrew Bird earned his first Emmy Award nomination for the song "Need Someone." The track appeared in Season 2, Episode 6 of The Pitt and is nominated in the category of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Check it out below.
Phoebe Bridgers returned to The Tonight Show to perform an acoustic version of her new single, "Lost Boys." Cult-favorite folk singer Dan Reeder, who's currently signed to John Prine's Oh Boy Records, was a special guest, prompting Rolling Stone to share a headline, "Who Is That Guy Singing 'Lost Boys' With Phoebe Bridgers On TV?"
In somewhat strange and controversial music tech news, Spotify introduced an AI feature that allows Premium users in select locations to "Talk to Spotify." Read the press release from the streaming service here. Additionally, music writer and tech professional Adam Offitzer launched a new app called Encore, which is described as, “Letterboxd for concerts.” The app keeps track of every gig a user attends and organizes them based on artist frequency, recommendations, and more. Read more at Paste.
The Mountain Goats have a new album, Days, due out August 7 via the band’s own Cadmean Dawn Records/Thirty Tigers. For fans who need additional merch, though, Buffalo-based felt banner company Oxford Pennant just shared an exclusive collaboration with the band. Check out the full line here and a track from the forthcoming record below.
Finally, RIP to Mary Morello, mother of protest singer and guitarist Tom Morello, who passed away at 102 years old this week. Mary was a life-long activist, teacher, and volunteer who founded a nonprofit anti-censorship organization called Parents for Rock and Rap. She was outspoken for racial equality and gender equality, having raised Tom — whose father is Kenyan — in Chicago as a single mother through the civil rights movement.
As Tom told the Chicago Sun-Times, “My mom led a humble yet powerfully impactful life, always siding with the underdog, always fearlessly speaking out against racism, intolerance, and injustice. ... In the immediate aftermath of her passing, I am just fully realizing the global impact of her life and example. I’ve heard from Afghanistan refugees and former heads of state, from the United Mine Workers and Twisted Sister. Her life’s example of integrity, righteousness and humanity has been far reaching.”
May her memory continue to inspire others to speak up and sing out for justice.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
The Menzingers - Everything I Ever Saw
Amy Helm - Silver City (ND review)
Allison Russell - In the Hour of Chaos (ND review)
Andrew Sa - American Rough (ND review)
Leon Bridges - "Your Love Is Electric" (from his forthcoming album Happiness Anytime, due out September 25 via Columbia Records)
Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience - "Cadillac Assembly Line" f/ Keb' Mo', The Ground Zero Blues Club Band, and Chineke! Orchestra (from the multi-disciplinary project due out August 14 via Decca Records)
NEW RELEASES - 7/17/26
The Binoculars - Double Whammy
Amy Martin - Bones
Lily Meola - Luck to Be
John R. Miller - The Great Unknowing
Neon Moons - Day Late Dollar Short
Slow Accordion - Slow Accordion
Gary Stewart - One Track Mind
Aaron Lee Tasjan - Get Over It, Underdog
Cinder Well - A Blooming Body
COMING SOON - 7/24/26
Maya De Vitry - All My Faith
Ella Fitzgerald - Live at the Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, 6th February 1966
Creekbed Carter Hogan - Peasants Revolt
Punch Brothers - The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers
Ma Rainey - Mother of the Blues, The Complete Paramount Recordings, 1923-1928
The Revivalists - Get It Honest
Charles Wesley Godwin - Christian Name
Wild Gods - The Glorious Abysmal
