Event Information

Gates: 5:30PM / Doors: 7:30PM / Show: 8:00PM

Levon Helm Studios Presents: The Helm Family Midnight Ramble

with Special Guest The Union

The Helm Family Midnight Ramble is a musical tribute to the founding songbook of Rock and Roll. Born inside the hallowed walls of Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, the Midnight Ramble has preserved and furthered Levon Helm's legacy for nearly two decades, playing the iconic music of The Band, and Levon Helm.

The Helm Family Midnight Ramble crosses generational and musical lines, featuring an ever-evolving family of musicians. Amy Helm honors her father's penultimate vision for both Levon Helm Studios and the Midnight Ramble - to create a community for musicians to share their art, and "keep it going."

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The Union

The Union formed several decades ago when Leslie met Simone Appleby and the two found a mutual bond in singing harmony in church. Leslie with her smooth silky alto and Simone with her powerful smokey tenor and deft piano skills found a balance rarely heard or achieved by a duo. Their reputation grew steadfast and they were soon being courted and recruited by some of gospel’s most legendary figures, including Dorothy Norwood, Albertina Walker and Sarah Dash. Through these women and the years traveling the world with them, The Union honed and developed their skills as some of gospel’s most gifted and versatile background singers.


The duo has fundamentally established themselves within the city’s faith community and spends most any Sunday traveling to several churches who keep their sacred sound in high demand. At the local recording studio, they are the first card in the rolodex for any artist from any genre looking for vocal harmonies. Ask them how they feel about the term “background singers” and the limitations it implies and they simply lean in and say, “Nobody can do what we do, the way we do it. We take enormous pride in the skills we carry with us. When a singer looks back at us and smiles when we hit it just right, we know that we are doing what we came here to do.”

Upon their recent release of their National Debut album Eclectic, The Union have already shared their original composition and sacred traditionals with audiences at Carnegie Hall and the storied Newport Folk Festival with great success.