Taking the Helm

Amy Helm is still quite taken with one of the views her late father — famed drummer and singer Levon Helm — had about the deeply profound effect that music can have on people’s lives.

“My father used to call it the language of heaven, and I very much agree with that,” Helm says. “Music has saved my life many times and continues to, in small ways and in big ways.”

Helm has performed in several roots, blues and folk groups over the years — including the Levon Helm Band — but with a new year upon us, Helm will soon be releasing her first solo record. Tentatively due out in April, the as-yet-untitled album could feature as many as 15 tracks, including covers of songs by the likes of Sam Cooke and Martha Scanlan.

“It was invigorating,” Helm says of making the album. “It’s always fun to work on albums. Any chance to work is a good thing. And music is, of course, a pretty fun job to have.”

And while Helm has spent most of her time supporting other artists in the past, she found that she enjoyed fronting her own project just as much.

“There’s something really exciting about being part of a group and having to interact in a different way, a supportive way, when you’re playing in a band, and it is certainly a challenge and a very cool thing to try and lead and drive a song from the front of the stage,” she says. “I enjoy both quite a bit.”

Amy Helm plays with blues stalwarts The Wood Brothers 8 pm Thursday, Feb. 6, at WOW Hall; $17 adv., $20 door.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!