In 2008 Levon Helm took to the stage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. He was joined by a stellar cast of Americana musicians including Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Selected highlights of this event were recorded as “Ramble at the Ryman”.

PBS stations across the country will be airing this program in August 2009. Check your local listings for time and date as airings vary from city to city.

Some PBS stations are currently re-airing Fats Domino: Walking Back to New Orleans. Check your local listings. Robert Plant appears in the program, commenting about Domino and working with the Soweto Gospel Choir. Check your local listings to see if the program is airing in your market.

Helen Brown reviews “Essential Alison Krauss” for the Telegraph (UK), and references Raising Sand. Brown writes:

Angelic, pure, sweet, demure, faultless, goody-goody: these are the adjectives most frequently used to describe Alison Krauss, perhaps making her an unlikely recording partner for heavy metal hero Robert Plant. But when the head girl of bluegrass spread her honeyed vocals over the Led Zeppelin wild man’s burnt toast voice on last year’s Raising Sand covers album, the critics swooned, the public bought 2.5 million copies and the Grammy for album of the year was in the bag.

The O2 (UK) will host Rockwell, a charity event that will benefit the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. Priority tickets will be available from August 3 to August 5 2009 for O2 customers. Some performers scheduled to appear are Joss Stone, Tom Jones, Robert Plant and more.

Robert Plant appeared 19 years ago at Knebworth (1990) at a similar event which raised 3 million pounds for the charity. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy uses music to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, neurological damage or terminal illnesses.

Rockwell Site
O2 Rockwell Site

Tim Little, writing in the KRVM blog “Routes and Branches” featured Alison Krauss on the occasion of her birthday. He writes:

Alison has produced great vocals, but I feel her best came out when she hooked up with Robert Plant. Their album “Raising Sand” was one of my favorites last year.

Nick Purdy of Paste Magazine interviewed Jed Hilly, the executive director of the Americana Music Association. Hilly talks about what Americana is (using Raising Sand as an example) and how the genre is getting more attention, especially from the Grammys.

Paste: Last year, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant interloped right into the Americana world on the arm of Grammy Queen Alison Krauss and took over the place, winning Album of the Year at the 2009 Americana Music Awards. So the definition of Americana apparently isn’t meant in the sense of Americans, huh?

Hilly: That’s correct. Remember that an artist is an artist first. I wouldn’t want to describe any of them as being specifically Americana artists—music is a craft, an art form. Elvis Costello has explored many a genre in his career. We have several acts coming to our festival this year who did not grow up in the United States—the Greencards, Holly Golightly, Baskery and a bunch more. Gee, what can I say about Alison and Robert? They are both amazing. Beyond their artistry, they are really really good people. I was thrilled they came to our event last year.

Read the whole article.

In an interview with Katrina-Kasey Wheeler, singer-songwriter Jennie DeVoe was asked about dream collaborations. DeVoe said:

I thought it was great to see Alison Krauss work with Robert Plant. I would love to do something with him. I think he is one of the most soulful and imaginative artists around.

Alison Krauss will release the compilation “Essential Alison Krauss” on July 27th, 2009 on Rounder. In an interview published in the Telegraph (UK), Krauss talks about her music and working with Robert Plant. Paul Sexton writes:

“When I first met him, at a Leadbelly tribute, I saw that big hairdo, I said ‘Robert,’ he turns around, he’s got these glasses on, and he goes ‘There you are.’ And the first thing he starts talking about is Ralph Stanley.

“He’s very passionate about music. We were riding around making the record and he goes, ‘Do you think something’s wrong with me? My kids say, ‘We want a real dad, can’t you be a normal dad?’ and I’m like, ‘They’re going to be waiting a long time.’ He’s like [she speaks at double speed], ‘Listen to this, this Egyptian singer, can you believe it, blaaaah…’ Just crazy.That’s a really infectious, wonderful thing to be around.”

The pair are planning a follow-up album, and have had listening meetings about potential material. “It’ll be different, as if we hadn’t made the first,” she says. “I love being in the world of the unknown.”

Virtual Festivals is giving away five pairs of tickets for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention which takes place August 13-15, 2009. In addition to Fairport Convention, other artists appearing include Richard Thompson, Steve Winwood, Buzzcocks, Nick Kershaw and more.

Last year, Robert Plant made a surprise appearance performing with Fairport Convention.

Visit the Virtual Festivals Website to enter. Contest ends August 3, 2009.

Alison Krauss and Union Station will be performing at the White House on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. The performance starts at 7:30pm ET. President Obama will make remarks at the event. The event is part of a series of White House events celebrating the arts.

You can watch the event live from the White House Website.