Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, Margo Price & More Aboard For ‘Levon 80’ Livestream

The 80th birthday of late The Band drummer Levon Helm will be honored with Levon 80, a livestream celebration put together by the Newport Festivals Foundation and Levon Helm Studios. Phil Lesh and Grahame Lesh, Mavis Staples and Margo Price are among the special guests joining The Midnight Ramble Band on the lineup for Levon 80, which will take place this Thursday, June 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT via nugs.tv.

Levon would have turned 80 back on May 26. Helm died of cancer on April 19, 2012. Thursday’s live webcast event comes in lieu of a celebration originally planned for the Newport Folk Festival, which was canceled due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

The Midnight Ramble Band, Levon’s backing band for the last phase of his career, will play a full show as part of Levon 80. Buddy Miller, Dawes, The Wood Brothers, The Lone Bellow, Shovels & Rope, The War and Treaty, Hiss Golden Messenger, Son Little, Connor Kennedy and round out the list of confirmed guests along with Phil, Grahame, Mavis and Margo.

Proceeds from Levon 80 will go towards Levon Helm Studios and the Newport Festivals Foundation. Head here to pre-order the livestream. A limited edition t-shirt and poster are also available.