Dr. John & The Nite Trippers / Amy Helm

The legendary Dr. John is a six-time Grammy Award-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Known throughout the world as the embodiment of New Orleans’ musical legacy, Dr. John is a true icon in American culture. His colorful musical career began in the 1950s when he wrote and played guitar on some of the greatest records to come out of the Crescent City, including recordings by Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford. Dr. John headed west in the 1960s, where he continued to be in demand as a session musician, playing on records by Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin and The Rolling Stones’ “Exile On Main St.” During that time he launched his solo career, developing the charismatic persona of Dr. John The Nite Tripper. His latest album “Locked Down”, released in 2012 with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys also won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In 2013 Dr. John was awarded an honorary doctorate from Tulane University alongside His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2014, Dr. John released Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch, an album in tribute to another larger-than-life New Orleans legend: Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. After a half century of creating music for others and himself, Dr. John continues to write, arrange, produce and interpret with a passion that has yet to wane.


Amy Helm’s deep musical roots were enriched by a lifetime of exposure to the finest expressions of American musical tradition. The daughter of music legend Levon Helm and singer/songwriter Libby Titus Fagen, Helm wields a powerful voice that can both stir and soothe, whether she is singing traditional gospel, blues standards or her own heartfelt compositions. She is a gifted musician on both mandolin and drums, and was a founding member of the roots band Ollabelle, with whom she has recorded three CDs. While beginning her solo career, she continues to perform with both Levon Helm’s band and the Dirt Farmer Band as they carry on the eclectic roots music traditions from the Midnight Rambles.