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| Wednesday, June 1 @ 7 PM | POETRY OPEN MIC | $2 |
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| Friday, June 3 @ 7 & 9:30 PM | FAIRPORT CONVENTION | $25 |
 www.fairportconvention.com
Fairport Convention is often considered the best of the '60s British
folk-rock, welding traditional British folk with the new sounds of American
groups like The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. Their last three discs, The
Wood and the Wire (2000), XXXV (2002) and the brand new Over the Next Hill,
all released in the States by Compass Records, make a compelling argument
that Fairport is better now than ever. These days, lead vocals are shared by
guitarist Simon Nicol, the lone original member still in the band, and Chris
Leslie, a versatile multi-instrumentalist on mandolin, bouzouki and violin,
whose original songs are a crucial element in modern-day Fairport's
repertoire. Long-time bassist and good humor man Dave Pegg pitches in on
vocal harmonies, while Ric Sanders' amazing fiddling gives the music its
unique richness of texture. Drummer Gerry Conway, a British folk-rock
veteran who first hit the big time playing with Cat Stevens in the '70s,
handles the rhythms and accents. See: All Music Guide |
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| Saturday, June 4 @ 8 PM | ACTIVE TRANSPORT | $10/5 students |
| This is one of Saratoga's most popular young jazz bands. Active Transport features five impressive players covering the standards and adding in a scattering of originals. The line-up is Bryson Barnes on trumpet, Dominic Fallacaro on piano, Jeff Nania on tenor saxophone, and the brother team of Jeremy Lawrence on drums and percussion, and Mike Lawrence on bass. |
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| Sunday, June 5 @ 7 PM | TEADA | $16/14 |
 www.teada.com
Named "Best Traditional Newcomers" in Irish Music Magazine, called a "fresh force in Irish music" by Irish Echo, this dynamic young band is embarking on an extensive U.S. tour. Their 2004 release from Green Linnet, "Give Us A Penny and Let Us Be Gone," has cemented them as an Irish-trad band to watch out for. With their exquisite renditions of centuries-old tunes, Téada's music "determinedly keeps the traditional flag flying at full mast...unhurried and satisfied to let the music breathe." (Irish Times) Oisín Mac Diarmada (fiddle, vocals), John Blake (guitar, flute) Seán McElwain (banjo, bouzouki), Tristan Rosenstock (bodhrán) and Paul Finn (accordion) - together, they are a group whose age belies how fully seasoned they are as instrumental performers. See: All Music Guide |
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| Friday, June 10 @ 8 PM | JON SHAIN & HAYSEED | $12/10 |
 www.jonshain.com / www.hayseedsings.com
Jon Shain is a North Carolina-based songwriter who has delighted Caffe Lena audiences with his opening sets for Bill Morrissey and Professor Louie. His accessible, rootsy style mixes Piedmont blues, swing and ragtime with original songwriting that finds those heartstrings and gives them a good, hard yank. His latest album, "No Tag, No Tail Light," was produced by legendary British drummer Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention, Elton John, Paul McCartney). The Boston Phoenix comments: "[The album] conjures idealized visions of the American landscape as a place of open roads, open hearts, and open wounds."
"Hayseed is, in my mind, on the same level as Bob Dylan and Neil Young and Van Morrison," says Lucinda Williams. Hayseed grew up in Western Kentucky, where his father was a Pentacostal minister who shunned every kind of music but gospel. "From the time I was a little kid, I was encouraged to sing at the top of my lungs..." Hayseed's melodies are close kin to countless old-time tunes, yet the lyrics carry sharp contemporary accents, preoccupied with guilt, sin, salvation and eternity. His first two albums feature duets from Lucinda, Joy Lynn White and Emmylou Harris.
See: All Music Guide |
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| Saturday, June 11 @ 8 PM | AL GALLODORO | $14/12 |
  www.algallodoro.com
It certainly adds interest to Al's concerts that he is 91-years-old and has had a seventy-year-long career as a professional musician, including stints with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and the NBC Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. But most impressive of all is his playing, which remains as strong and confident now as it was then. Back at Lena's for his sixth year in a row, Gallodoro's recent performances of jazz standards, Latin, Dixie and blues tunes have wowed our audiences and local critics. Metroland's reviewer wrote: "Another hot chorus that went stratospheric...hot novelty licks...and he's going stronger than ever!" After a night of in the prescence of his charming personality and sweet, romantic, nostalgic playing you will agree that he is "undoubtably the greatest saxophone/clarinet virtuoso in history." Al will be joined by long-time collaborator JoAnn Chmielowski on piano. |
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| Sunday, June 12 @ 7 PM | BENEFIT FOR THE ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL Featuring Susan Trump | $22 |
 www.preventioncouncil.org/who.htm
The Prevention Council is our neighbor here on Phila Street and serves the region with programs to help young people and adults choose healthy, drug-free lifestyles. Popular area folksinger and mountain dulcimer master Susan Trump is donating her talents to the cause, and we are donating our facility, to help raise funds to prevent the damage underage drinking can cause. Please add your support! |
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| Friday, June 17 @ 8 PM | MODERN MAN | $16/14 |
 www.modernman3.com
If there's a funnier group out there than Modern Man, we'll have to supply oxygen tanks because these guys have their audiences nearly asphyxiating with laughter. We're not talking about amusing or clever songs; we're talking about songs that will make you spit coffee. Their musical comedy with a folk twist is delivered in '60s-style harmonies, with George Wurzbach on electric piano, David Buskin on guitar and Rob Carlson on bass. |
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| Saturday, June 18 @ 8 PM | DAVE'S TRUE STORY | $14/12 |
 www.davestruestory.com
"...beatnick wit and chic... " -Thomas Staudter, New York Times
"New York hipsters Dave's True Story mix it up with smoldering grooves and cheeky beatnik lyrics..." -Billboard An evening with Dave's True Story is groovy, spontaneous, and entertaining. This NYC jazz trio returns to our stage with their brilliant, campy lounge act, swinging their way through love's more bizarre side. Since 1994, songwriter-guitarist Dave Cantor and smoky-voiced chanteuse Kelly Flint have been offering jazz licks and clever, short story lyrics to a growing audience from Boston to Monterey. If sensual, highly literate explorations of dark lust, sweet romance, and heartache sounds like your thing, come check them out. See: All Music Guide |
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| Sunday, June 19 @ 6 PM | POTLUCK SOCIAL FOR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS | FREE (with current membership) |
| Yes, you're the cooks, janitors and publicists, the financial backers, the most frequent concert-goers, and the reason that Caffè Lena is the Longest Running Coffeehouse in America! Whether you've been supporting Lena's since 1960 or you just joined up last week, we'd love the pleasure of your company and the chance to say Thanks for Your Support! Feel free to bring new recruits along with your potluck dish. Please RSVP by June 15. |
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| Monday, June 20 @ 7 PM | STORYTELLING OPEN MIC | $3 |
| Every third Monday evening from 7:00-9:00 p.m., storytellers in the Capital District will now have an open mic especially for them, where participants can try their voices for the first time, hone their skills in front of a live, responsive audience, work on their presentation, or try new ideas in a supportive atmosphere. For others, it's a cheap night of entertainment. No reservations are necessary or taken. The organizers and MCs for this storytelling open mic are storytellers Marni Gillard, Christie Keegan and Jeannine Laverty. The procedure is to sign up to tell by 7:15 p.m. There is a 10-minute limit on story length. The MC will weave the evening together and there will be no feedback. No reading of stories, just telling, please. |
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| Friday, June 24 @ 8 PM | JUDY WYLE AND HIDDEN RIVER | $12/10 |
 www.hiddenriver.net/main.htm
This high-energy band finds its roots in the '60s spirit of exploration and freedom. They bring their extensive experience in rock, jazz, country and classical music to the soulful and diverse compositions of singer / songwriter and Saratoga native Judy Wyle, who fronts the band with her personal and sometimes dramatic singing. Judy is joined by her brother, Steve Wyle, on rhythm guitar, Don Coletti on keyboards, John Provini on bass, Norbert Biskupiak on drums, and Rich Johnson on lead guitar. And most join in on singing Judy's songs which range in style from retro pop to sweet, contemporary rock. |
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| Saturday, June 25 @ 8 PM | MAURIZIO | $12/10 |
 www.thezo.com
Maurizio brings a folk artist's intelligence, depth and lack of pretense to a fine collection of original alt-rock songs played with the all-out drive of a former punk rocker. He has long been a favorite at Caffe Lena's weekly open mic, winning fans with his top-notch guitar skills, exciting dynamics, and catchy lyrics. This debut CD being released tonight, "Slides from the Renaissance," is eagerly anticipated by the many fans Maurizio has collected during his several years of steady gigs throughout the Capital District. |
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| Sunday, June 26 @ 7 PM | KATE BLAIN | $12/10 |
 www.kateblain.com
We asked Kate Blain to play her first gig here in 2001 after hearing her at our weekly Open Mic. It turned out to be her first professional gig, which quickly turned into a busy schedule of concerts across upstate New York, an excellent CD, The Good Life, and appearances on area TV and radio stations. She has the qualities that spell success for a modern folk musician: a beautiful voice, interesting stories, poignant ballads, engaging wit, and good guitar skills. Her shows are immediately engaging for newcomers and regular fans alike. |
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