Ollabelle
Folk · US · Active since 2002

Ollabelle

Harmonious, soulful roots music that feels like a Sunday morning revival in a wooden chapel. Gospel-inflected folk with deep, communal warmth.

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Intro

Ollabelle sounds like a conversation between five distinct voices that have spent years learning how to breathe together. It is music rooted in the red clay of the American South and the dusty floorboards of Appalachian porches, yet it was born in the late-night sessions of a New York City bar. You will hear the hum of a Hammond organ, the steady thrum of an upright bass, and acoustic guitars that feel lived-in and loved.

What makes them truly distinctive is their approach to the American songbook. They don't just cover gospel and folk standards; they inhabit them, blending Amy Helm's bluesy grit with intricate, five-part vocal harmonies that can shift from a whisper to a roar. Their sound is a rare intersection where traditional spirituals meet the sophisticated arrangements of jazz-trained musicians, resulting in something that feels both ancient and entirely contemporary.

Start with their self-titled debut or 'Riverside Battle Songs' to hear the full breadth of their power. It is the perfect soundtrack for moments of reflection, quiet mornings, or any time you need music that feels like a steady hand on your shoulder. It is soulful, unpretentious, and deeply human.

Ollabelle is a New York–based folk music group named after the influential Appalachian songwriter Ola Belle Reed. The group is composed of five singing multi-instrumentalists hailing from disparate parts of the United States, Canada and Australia.
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Our Catalog4 Albums · 2004 · 2011
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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