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| Friday, Dec. 2 @ 8 PM |
DAVID MASSENGILL |
$12/10 |
 www.davidmassengill.com
David Massengill is a gracious storyteller, genuine folk songwriter, and mountain dulcimer virtouso. His performances are utterly captivating, romantic and touching--among the finest ever seen at Caffe Lena.
In gentle southern tones David shares his unique vision of the world, which is deeply
rooted in nostalgia for days gone by, but never flinches from the realities of modern life.
He journeys from charming tales of family and small town adventures to songs in which Jesus escapes from a mental hospital, history's greatest villains gather for a dinner party, a New York restaurant kitchen crew saves an illegal alien cook from the immigration man, and a young woman
and a bandit fall in love as he robs her. |
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| Saturday, Dec. 3 @ 8 PM |
THE KENNEDYS
With Special Guest Rebecca Hall |
$12/10 members & students |
 www.kennedysmusic.com / rebeccaandken.com
Even after ten years, over a thousand gigs and 500,000 miles of touring as a married, music-making couple, singer-guitarists Pete and Maura Kennedy savor each instant in life, and it shows in their music. On the surface they're all fun and games, with huge smiles and exuberant '60's chic, but underneath they're deeply serious about finding wisdom in the moment and connecting spiritually with all that surrounds them.
Maura's lead vocals are sweet and often girlishly playful while displaying a plaintive edge of experience. Pete lays down chiming, dancing acoustic and 12-string guitar leads. |
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| Sunday, Dec. 4 @ 7 PM |
KAMIKAZE HEARTS |
$10 |
 www.kamikazehearts.com/2.html
This award-winning Capital District band is on the move with an ever-expanding tour schedule and growing radio play. They offer "upstate porch rock," a melodic, rootsy presentation of Gen-X experience.
With an equal affinity for the Mountain Goats, Black Sabbath, and Ricky Skaggs, the Kamikaze Hearts take a varied approach that appeals to young rock afficionadoes and hard-core folkies alike. In addition to the texture of four-part harmonies, the band features acoustic guitar, brushed snare drum and floor tom, acoustic bass, mandolin, banjo and dobro, plus a uniquely loose stage style that makes every show, no matter how packed, into an intimate gathering of old pals. |
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| Friday, Dec. 9 @ 8 PM |
HUXTABLE, CHRISTENSEN & HOOD |
$12/10 |
 This trio was a regular feature at Lena's in the '80s until family and careers took them in separate directions. A rare reunion show is not to be missed!
Their three-part harmonies, as heard on an early Rounder release, are just as stylish as ever as they sing and smile their way through old folk songs, a few originals, and pop hits of the '50s and '60s. You'll leave your cares behind as you watch their flashy doo-wop moves and listen to their lovely songs and warm stage banter. |
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| Saturday, Dec. 10 @ 7 PM |
AZTEC TWO-STEP |
$20/18 |
 www.aztectwostep.com
Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman have spent a lifetime making music together. Their first four albums on Elektra and RCA Records were staples of progressive FM and college radio and helped to bring the music of the 1960s into the '70s.
Today they continue to impress audiences with intelligent songwriting, dazzling acoustic lead guitar, and inspiring "James Taylor meets Simon & Garfunkel" harmonies.
Their first studio album in more than a decade, Days of Horses, reflects their musical growth with touches of blues and country added to their familiar acoustic sound. |
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| Sunday, Dec. 11 @ Noon & 7 PM |
ANNUAL FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS HOLIDAY CONCERT |
$12/10 |
Featuring John Kirk & Trish Miller, David Kiphuth & Linda Schrade, Addie & Olin
Don't miss this annual holiday show, a favorite of folk fans around these parts! Three husband-and-wife teams offer sacred and secular songs of the season, along with plenty of jolly high spirits.
John Kirk is one of the region's premiere fiddlers. Trish and David play banjo, Olin and Linda play guitar, Addie joins in on clarinet, tenor sax, piccolo and accordion, and someone's bound to haul out a concertina! And everyone, including the audience, sings like an angel. |
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| Friday, Dec. 16 @ 8 PM |
BURNS SISTERS HOLIDAY SHOW
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$18/16 |
 Sorry, this show has been cancelled!
The Burns Sisters have joined the "Arlo Guthrie & Friends: Ridin' on the City of New Orleans" tour
and will have to postpone.
www.burnssisters.com
This trio of sisters will bring us a heartfelt celebration of the season done up in their famous bluegrass style. Marie, Annie and Jeannie are known far and wide for their sister harmonies and country pop-rock, as heard on several Rounder/Philo albums.
Their holiday show features traditional carols, African-American spirituals, and musical poems and prayers from around the globe. The gals will be joined by Kevin Maul on dobro and Tony Markellis on bass. |
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| Saturday, Dec. 17 @ 8 PM |
WHOLESALE KLEZMER BAND
Pre-Hannukkah Celebration |
$14/12 |
 http://users.crocker.com/~ganeydn/#wkb
We're getting a jumpstart on Hannukkah this year with our favorite klezmer band. Each December this eight-member ensemble squeezes onto our stage to help Saratoga celebrate the holidays with an emotionally uplifting performance of Yiddish music, comedy and lessons.
They perform in English and Ashkenazic Hebrew, making everything accessible to a mixed audience with translations, explanations, and that universal language that makes your toes tap.
Wholesale Klezmer's swinging, danceable sound comes from Joe Kurland (lead vocals and fiddle), Sherry Mayrent (clarinet), Owen Davidson (accordion), Michael Suter (bass), Brian Bender (trombone), Richie Davis (drums), Peggy Davis (flute and vocals), and David Tasgal (violin). |
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| Sunday, Dec. 18 @ 3 PM |
PRAISE THANG!
Special late addition to our calendar!!! |
$11/9 |
Here's a holiday celebration that will shine fresh light into your weary soul. PRAISE THANG, Saratoga's own beloved gospel super group, presents a jazzy, soulful spin on the season that will appeal to the whole family.
The big line-up of all-star guests this time includes vocalists Garland Nelson and Shari Parslow, pianist Elizabeth Woodbury, flutist Rebecca Kleinmann, Peter Davis on banjo and clarinet, Mike Del Prete on bass, and drummer Zak Trojano.
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| Sunday, Dec. 18 @ 7 PM |
SARA MILONOVICH AND GREG ANDERSON |
$16/14 |
 www.bittersweetmusik.com
This duo features two of contemporary folk music's most gifted instrumentalists.
They travel around the world with a fiery repertoire of Celtic and American traditional music mixed with an eclectic handful of more contemporary originals and covers.
Sara Milonovich began selling out shows at Lena's at the age of eleven. She later became widely known to Capital District audiences during her years playing fiddle with The McKrells.
Guitarist Greg Anderson founded the acclaimed Celtic fusion band Whirligig and is a current member of the Cathie Ryan band. |
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| Friday, Dec. 23 @ 8 PM |
POETRY SLAM WITH BROADCAST LIVE |
$3 |
 "Poetry WHAT?!"
Caffè Lena gets hip to a growing national pastime with this Poetry Slam, an event in which poets perform their work and are judged by a panel of judges selected at random from the audience at the show.
The competition is open to everyone who wishes to sign up. Everyone gets to join in the first round. The lineup for subsequent rounds will be determined by the scoring of the judges. Each poet gets three minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read one poem.
Our special guest for the evening will be Broadcast Live, Albany's superb and inspirational new spoken word, hip-hop, funk, live music experience featuring Victorio Reyes Asili (vocals), Ralphy Marvel (vocals), Jory Leanza-Carey (drums/vocals), Gaetano Vaccaro (guitar), and John Hague (bass). |
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| Friday, Dec. 30 @ 8 PM |
WOODS TEA COMPANY |
$16/14 |
 woodstea.net
This four-man stringband from Vermont performs a winning combination of Celtic tunes, bluegrass, sea shanties and folk songs, interspersed with plenty of wit and comeraderie.
Their shows often feature up to a dozen different musical instruments, including banjo, guitar, bodhran, bass, concertina, fiddle and whistles, plus rousing vocal harmonies by Mike Lussen, Rusty Jacobs, Howard Wooden and Chip Chase.
National Public Radio called them "Vermont's hardest working folk group," a moniker richly deserved after seven albums and frequent tours across the US. |
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