2008 09 17 Levon Helm at the Mother Church

This performance was as close to the infamous “Midnight Ramble” at Levon's Barn as you'll get. It was definitely a blowout at the Mother Church of country music. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt, Steve Earle and Delbert McClinton showed. Levon's great band, (lead guitarist Larry Campbell (ex-Dylan) and keyboardist Brian Williams,) Buddy Miller and Sam Bush.

One quote on the internet was "It was “The Last Waltz” without Canadians. "

We love Levon and really enjoyed hearing “Ophelia” and “Got Me a Woman." Levon's voice got raspier with every song but “Anna Lee,” with beautiful harmonies from Amy (Levon's daughter) and Teresa Williams was terrific.

The crowd was in complete shock when Robert Plant and Allison Krauss made an appearance for one song - we really hoped to hear more than one. Sheryl Crow performed a duet with Levon on “Evangeline” that was amazing. Another highlight was 80-year-old bluesman Little Sammy Davis, a regular at Levon's "Midnight Ramble" in his barn near Woodstock, N.Y.

On leaving the show folks were talking about what they’d just witnessed - one fella said it best -this performance was the closest we were ever gonna get to seeing the Band.