In Focus: Leif Vollebekk and La Force, Live at Levon Helm Studios

Levon Helm Studios was sold out on Saturday, April 4th, for a visit from some of Montreal’s finest: Leif Vollebekk, with opener La Force. The show also featured appearances from Cindy Cashdollar and Patrick Watson. This dynamic cast of musicians put on a special show for the Woodstock crowd that lasted late into the night. The crowd was excited for the show and were entertained throughout, and for a number of first timers at the barn, they learned how alive music can feel in the barn.

Cindy Cashdollar on lap steel

La Force consisted of Ariel Engle performing solo on Saturday night. Her set was a perfect way to open the show; the crowd was captivated by the ethereal combination of Ariel’s voice and guitar, and from the first measure she took full control of their attention. La Force created a unique atmosphere, the room was filled with a calmness that was balanced by a fragile tension in her voice. The hauntingly beautiful combination of Ariel’s voice and guitar can be heard in her live version of ‘Can’t Take’ in the clip below.

After La Force, Leif Vollebekk took the stage and from the start he was one thing: connected. Leif was connected to his music, through his body, to his instruments, and to the sounds he and his band make. During each song of his set Leif would visibly lose himself to the feeling of his music. When playing guitar on his feet, Leif would never stay in one place. He would flow to and from the microphone as he needed, bouncing in and out of different sections of the songs. Even when seated at the piano, Leif would rock back and fourth: leaning, twisting, and bending, all to play the notes exactly as he feels.

This connection to his music is no more apparent than during ‘Hot Tears.’ Close fans of Leif knew the moment this song was coming on Saturday night, as he laid his guitar down on the floor, with the headstock pointing away as he sat down at the keys. This was to leave the guitar in a convenient place for the moment in the song when he picked it up and to solo, calling and responding to himself on the keyboard. In the clip below, you can fast forward to minute 10:33 to watch Leif perform ‘Hot Tears’ for KCRW. Just after minute 14:30 is when Leif picks up his guitar and puts on a clinic in playing with feel.

Leif’s set was dynamic throughout, and his energy level flowed up and down with each song. The set’s energy trended upward as the night went on though, and the build up took off as the band rocked Levon Helm Studios with ‘Blood Brother.’ The regular set was closed out at its peak with ‘Transatlantic Flight,’ another song off Leif’s latest album: New Ways. The energy of this song would be matched only with the final song of the encore, when every musician in the building took the stage for a cover of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain.’ This proved to be a truly special ending to another incredible show in Woodstock.

Leif Vollebekk will be wrapping his American tour in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts before heading to Europe. See all of Leif’s upcoming tour dates on his website. To catch any future announcements, be sure to follow him on Instagram @leifvollebekk. Stay up-to-date with La Force by visiting laforceband.com and following Ariel on Instagram @laforceband. For upcoming shows at Levon Helm Studios, visit levonhelm.com.

Setlist (partial): East of Eden, Into the Ether, Big Sky Country, Never Be Back, Apalachee Plain, Long Blue Light, Tallahassee, Blood Brother, Hot Tears, Transatlantic Flight

Encore: Elegy, Purple Rain (Prince)

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