The Band's Levon Helm is doing better after nearly a week-long stay in the hospital. The 70-year-old drummer was hospitalized the weekend of December 11th after battling a cold made worse by a condition he has called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, he was released late last week and played one of his Ramble gigs in Woodstock, New York on Saturday.

 

Helms' manager Barbara O'Brien has said the hospitalization is "totally unrelated" to Helm's late-'90s throat cancer diagnosis.

 

Helm's Rambles typically take place Saturday nights at his home studio multiple times a month.

 

According to SoundSpike.com, in 2011 Helm is expected to release a live albu, called Ramble at the Ryman, recorded live in Nashville.

 

Levon Helm Band tour dates (subject to change):

 

February 2 - Atlantic City, NJ - Harrah's Atlantic City 

February 11 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre 

March 4, 5 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall 

March 6 - Buffalo, NY - UB Center For The Arts 

March 18 - Tarrytown, NY - The Tarrytown Music Hall 

March 26 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios