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Levon Helm, Newport Folk Festival, August 2008.

Levon Helm has something to smile about. The drummer/singer for The Band battled back from throat cancer (diagnosed 1998) and released "Dirt Farmer" last year. His daughter Amy Helm, who fronts her own band Ollabelle, joined in on the set which spanned Band and material solo along with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.

© 2008/Selene Angier for Metro Boston