Performance Schedule
February 2006

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Friday, Feb. 3 @ 8 PM RACHAEL SAGE AND PAMELA MEANS $12/10
www.rachaelsage.com / www.pamelameans.com
This show will pair a couple of dynamic young women whose do-it-yourself style has won them fans and press accolades coast to coast.
     NYC-based Rachael Sage has been compared to such artists as Rufus Wainwright for her gorgeous, piano-driven melodies and Sarah McLachlan for her feminist-folk sensibilities.
     Her contemporary "folk-noir" has earned top prizes from Billboard and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In addition to a full-tilt tour schedule, Rachael runs her own record label and is a resident composer for the American Jewish Ballet.
     Pamela Means returns to Lena's from her homebase of Boston where she is dearly loved as an out(spoken), biracial indie artist whose "kamikaze guitar style" and punchy provocative songs have worn a hole in her guitar. Armed with razor wit poetry and irresistible charm, Pamela Means' "stark, defiant songs" (NYT) set the status quo and the stage afire.
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Saturday, Feb. 4 @ 8 PM  PROFESSOR LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX $15/12
www.woodstockrecords.com/biog.html
This Woodstock quintet has got to be one of the best darn bands anywhere, anytime.
     They bring to their Americana folk rock and jam band tunes the most impressive credentials, the deepest hearts, and an unguarded love of putting on a show. Clearly up for any job, they've backed Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead, Garth Hudson of The Band, and recorded an album with Rick Danko.
     Professor Louie (Aaron Hurwitz) leads on keyboards and accordion, joined by Miss Marie (Spinosa) on vocals and percussion, Gary Burke (Bob Dylan, Joe Jackson, Jesse Winchester, Graham Parker) on drums, Frank Campbell (Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Asleep At The Wheel) on bass, and Josh Colow (Kane Brothers, Jesse Winchester, Livingston Taylor) on guitar.
     It just doesn't get any better than this!
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Sunday, Feb. 5  @ 7 PM LOWEN AND NAVARRO $20/18
www.lownav.com
Lowen and Navarro have been writing and performing together for 16 years and playing Lena's for the past six. Their live shows are dynamic, emotional and uplifting, full of catchy acoustic pop songs that document human dignity and frailty and examine life's losses and lessons.
     Successful songwriters before they embarked on a performing career, they wrote the worldwide hit "We Belong" for Pat Benatar as well as works recorded by the Bangles, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. Eric and Dan color their material with supple, acoustic-based arrangements highlighted by their delightful vocal harmonies and a truly special rapport with the audience.
Photo: Warren Churgin
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Friday, Feb. 10 @ 8 PM TRIO PAMPLEMOUSSE
Featuring Nicole Peyrafitte		 $10/8
www.nicolepeyrafitte.com/Trio%20Pamplemousse/trio%20pamplemousse.html
Led by French cabaret singer Nicole Peyrafitte, Trio Pamplemousse is a voco-musical-visual adventure. This innovative collaboration combines Nicole's daring voice, often enhanced with electronics and videos, jazz guitarist George Muscatello's mystical soundscapes, and Danny Whelchel's vibrant, quivering, unruffled percussion.
     Nicole is a poet, singer, teacher, painter, cook, and was named Times Union's Best Performance Artist of the Capital Region for 2005.
     "Nicole Peyrafitte is a brilliant and most original performer. . . .She is in the poetic lineage of Greek tragedy, Café Voltaire antics, of dada and surrealist play, but with a post-modern, hip sensibility. I am transfixed when she's on stage." -Anne Waldman, poet and performer
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Saturday, Feb. 11 @ 8 PM FOOTHILLS TRIO $15/12
www.fh3.com
This beloved folk, Irish, maritime band returns to Caffè Lena as part of their annual post-retirement tour (their fans simply won't let them quit!).
     The Foothills sound features three-part harmonies reminiscent of the Kingston Trio, the Clancy Brothers and Schooner Fare. The members are Tim Keegan on lead guitar and banjo, Don Golden on rhythm guitar, and Bill Engelhardt on bass.
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Sunday, Feb. 12 @ 7 PM  TOREY
With special guests "The Chick Peas"		 $10/8 students
"He is a savvy stylist on the six-string, the music coiling around his acoustic anthems and swings to countrified rhythms, all the while tinged with the hint of a bluesy sorrow or bursting in an outright celebration of grooves."
-Tom Dimopoulos, Saratogian

www.torey.com
This Saratoga Springs artist wraps together soul, classic country, garage rock and folk into a show that draws power from the roots of American music, but twists them into a whole new form. Torey is a superb guitarist who has performed coast to coast with artists such as Sheryl Crow and Dean Delray and has opened shows for Ani Difranco, Chuck Berry, Dan Bern and many others. Now focused on songwriting and recording, Torey has released two albums and is working the East Coast as a solo artist and with his trio.

Opening act "The Chick Peas" have a very cool take on the acoustic, folk sound featuring guitar, percussion and fiddle along with three fine voices.

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Friday, Feb. 17 @ 8 PM BEPPE GAMBETTA $15/12
www.beppegambetta.com
Italy's charming and personable Beppe Gambetta has received worldwide acclaim for his distinctive blend of traditional European and American acoustic guitar styles.
     First attracted to flatpicking after hearing Doc Watson's music, Beppe founded Red Wine, one of Europe's premier bluegrass and country bands. He currently tours and records as a solo artist as well as with Tony Trischka, Dan Crary, David Grisman and others.
     His distictive sound is a multi-cultural tapestry of traditional, original and classical tunes and songs. His music comprises a colorful mosaic, taking listeners from American blues to Mediterranean dances, acoustic rock to flatpicking, to fandango and tarantella.
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Saturday, Feb. 18 @ 8 PM GUY DAVIS  
Sorry, this show has been cancelled!
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Saturday, Feb. 18 @ 8 PM SLAM ALLEN
"The Soul Workin' Man!"		 $14/12
www.soulworkingband.com
Guitarist and singer Slam Allen has been out there playing his blues and soul music for over twenty years. Working the famous Chitlin' Circuit as well as performing around the world, Allen's music and enthusiasm have been enjoyed by thousands. For the past three years he has played lead guitar in the legendary James Cotton Band. He got his start from his father and uncles who were known as the Allen Brothers Band. "When I play," says Allen, "people who may have never heard of me leave the show with a feeling like that we're old friends or family." He has frequently opened for or sat in with friends Shemekia Copeland, Clarence Carter, Otis Rush and Joe Lewis Walker to name a few.
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Sunday, Feb. 19 @ 7 PM GENTICORUM
Official Dance Flurry Decompression Concert!		 $16 ($15 with Dance Flurry Pass)
www.genticorum.com
2006 will bring the 19th annual Dance Flurry to Saratoga Springs. Taking over much of the downtown area, the Flurry offers thousands of participants dancing of every variety, plus concerts and lessons.
     Caffè Lena plays a special role by hosting the official "decompression," a chance for footsore dancers to sit down for a hot meal and final concert with one of the Flurry's best acts. This year we're thrilled to welcome the marvelous Quebecois string trio Genticorum.
     Comprised of Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand (wooden flute, electric bass, vocals), Pascal Gemme (fiddle, feet, vocals) and Yann Falquet (guitar, feet, vocals), Genticorum offers a rich repertoire of captivatingly crooked traditional tunes and tongue-in-cheek songs. In addition to their seldom-heard traditional fare, they integrate an inspired selection of original compositions that render hommage to their musical roots.
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Friday, Feb. 24 @ 8 PM TANGLEFOOT $18/15
"A genuinely super band of vigorous, head-shaking, hair-tossing wildmen." -Stephen Pedersen, Halifax Herald

www.tanglefootmusic.com
This five-man Canadian band is bounding with high energy, big vocals and fine songcraft. Using Celtic, maritime and French Canadian influences, they have created an extensive repertoire of traditional sounding new ballads that bring down the house everywhere they play, both here and abroad.
     Fans of all ages come to hear their memorable musical tales, invigorating harmony singing, and foot-stomping fiddle, guitar, mandolin, upright bass and keyboards.
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Saturday, Feb. 25 @ 8 PM SLOAN WAINWRIGHT BAND $12/10
www.sloanwainwright.com
Sloan Wainwright is a deep woman who offers more than just music at her concerts.
     Singing in an absolutely beautiful, rich contralto she reaches out to each listener with caring, understanding and guidance. You feel your spirit growing stronger as you listen to Sloan delve fearlessly into topics of love, loss and self-discovery, tearing down and rebuilding old beliefs, and finding strength from within. These big subjects are couched in grooving melodies that mix rock, jazz, blues and folk.
     Sloan is strictly a singer and she'll be supported on percussion and harmony singing by the talented Cadence Carroll, and on electric and acoustic guitars by Stephen Murphy.

VOCAL WORKSHOP WITH SLOAN
2 TO 5 PM; $30

In this three-hour workshop Sloan will share her experience as a singer, songwriter and performer. Sloan and the students will explore the discovery of one's music and the expression of one's self through the voice.
     The workshop will help each person find their individual voice and then release it, using a combination of discussion, movement, relaxation, sound and vocal techniques. You will do vocal warm-ups and work-outs and have fun! Sloan will help you develop a personal and daily singing practice.
     The Vocal Workshop is a wonderful learning experience for singers and non-singers alike. Registration is limited so please call ahead at 518-583-0022 to reserve your spot.
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Sunday, Feb. 26 @ 7 PM FULL FRONTAL FOLK $12/10
www.fullfrontalfolk.com
This quartet from Philly offers amazing vocal harmonies and a fresh, fun-loving attitude that takes audiences off guard.
     They look radical but sing traditional, dress (when they dress) in pink, punk and purple, and put together unique set-lists that jump from The Eagles to Childe ballads, from Dixie Chicks to traditional numbers such as "Catie Cruel" and "Blood and Gold." All are delivered with beautiful vocal arrangements that reveal their classical training, and instrumentation that features 6-and 12-string guitars, bass, fiddle, mandolin and percussion.
     Full Frontal Folk is Fatale (Wendy Fuhr), Lolita (Jennifer Schonwald), Jezebel (Thea Shoulson), Delilah (Courtney Malley) and Desdemona (Cheryl Prashker).
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