Ed Helms to Join Rhiannon Giddens’ Hollywood Bowl Revue
Celebrate folk music evolution June 18 with Grammy winners, Steve Martin and string band!
Image: Instagram
Folk Celebration At The Hollywood Bowl
Comedian and actor Ed Helms is set to join Grammy-winning folk artist Rhiannon Giddens onstage for her Old-Time Revue, a one-night-only celebration of folk music at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, June 18. Helms, an Oberlin College alumnus, shared the news on Instagram, inviting fans to “go on a musical journey through the evolution of folk music” alongside a lineup of acclaimed performers.
A Journey Through Folk Traditions
Giddens’ Old-Time Revue traces American roots from the earliest old-time and string band traditions to bluegrass, the 1960s folk revival, and contemporary acoustic styles. Expect Appalachian mountain ballads, clawhammer banjo tunes, protest songs of the Civil Rights era and fresh reinterpretations of classic Americana. As she noted online, the show offers a “musical journey” that honors the genre’s backbone while spotlighting its ongoing cultural impact.
Star-studded Lineup
Alongside Helms and Giddens, comedy legend Steve Martin will bring his Grammy-winning banjo chops to the Bowl stage. Grammy-nominated group Our Native Daughters—featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell—will explore African American contributions to folk traditions. Banjo virtuoso Alison Brown, the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year award, rounds out the bill with her jazz-inflected style. Together, these artists showcase the breadth of folk’s reach and its enduring influence on modern music.
Rhiannon Giddens: Folk Advocate And Scholar
Since graduating from Oberlin College and Conservatory in 2008, Rhiannon Giddens has become a leading voice in roots music. As a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and a solo artist, she has earned multiple Grammys and critical acclaim for her research-driven approach. Giddens often weaves history and storytelling into her performances, shedding light on overlooked chapters of American music and culture.
Ed Helms’ Creative Detour
Best known for his roles on The Office and in The Hangover trilogy, Ed Helms also developed a passion for bluegrass at Oberlin, where he studied film production. His Instagram announcement read, “So excited to join my friend, Grammy winner and fellow Oberlin College alum Rhiannon Giddens… for her one-night-only celebration of folk music.” Helms has shared banjo videos on social media and performed acoustic sets at charity events, earning him a niche following among roots enthusiasts. Recently, he hit the New York Times bestseller list with his book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups, but this Hollywood Bowl appearance marks one of his first major live music collaborations.
Tickets And Final Notes
Tickets for the June 18 event are available through the Hollywood Bowl box office and online. Fans should act quickly—this is a single performance that unites comedy icons, Grammy winners and string band legends for an immersive evening under the stars. Whether you’re a lifelong folk devotee or new to the genre, this concert offers a unique look at the songs and stories that shaped America’s musical identity.
With an expert curator in Rhiannon Giddens, surprise guest turns by Ed Helms and Steve Martin, and a roster of standout musicians, the Old-Time Revue promises to be a highlight of the summer concert season. Don’t miss this chance to experience a living history of folk music at Los Angeles’s most iconic amphitheater.
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