Ollabelle

Named after Appalachian folksinger Ola Belle Reed, Ollabelle formed as a Manhattan-based ensemble that layers an urban perspective onto Southern traditions such as bluegrass, gospel, and country. Although steeped in those rustic sources, the five musicians first convened in the distinctly urban East Village, where the neighborhood bar 9C launched weekly gospel gatherings in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. What began as a casual gathering for six regulars—singer Amy Helm (daughter of legendary Americana musician Levon Helm), guitarist Fiona McBain, bassist Byron Isaacs, drummer Tony Leone, keyboardist Glenn Patscha, and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Zhivago—soon coalesced into a committed band that attracted Sony Music and drew production support from roots-revival advocate T-Bone Burnett for the group’s 2004 debut. Appearances at the 2004 Newport Folk Festival and on Alison Krauss’ Great High Mountain Tour, together with the broader revival of old-timey Americana, helped build momentum for the self-titled release.

For the follow-up, 2006’s Riverside Battle Songs, the band enlisted Larry Campbell, the former Bob Dylan sideman, to serve as co-producer. Like its predecessor, the album blended the group’s distinctive treatment of traditional material with a larger share of original songs fashioned after their influences; the sessions proceeded without guitarist Jimi Zhivago, who had departed and left Ollabelle a quintet. The musicians maintained an active touring schedule, captured their performances for the strong live set Before This Time, and later returned to the studio to record 2011’s Neon Blue Bird.