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Full Calendar
Jun-Aug
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Fridge Calendar
Jun-Aug
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| Wednesday, August 1 • 7 PM |
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POETRY OPEN MIC |
| $3 |
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With Featured Readers Mimi Moriarty, Frank Desiderio and Michael Brown |
Mimi Moriarity is the producer and host of "Write Stuff," a cable access TV program in the Albany. Her short fiction, poems, essays and articles have been published in Margie, Alehouse, SLAB, Rockhurst Review, and Irish America, and she has read her work on NPR.
Frank Desiderio is a television producer, poet and president of the Humanitas Prize. His poetry has appeared in The Spring Hill Review, The National Catholic Reporter, Prairie Messenger, The Bread of Life and Emmanuel.
Michael Brown is a national slam poet.
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| Friday, August 3 • 8 PM |
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GUY DAVIS |
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Sorry, Cancelled |
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 This Philadelphia father-and-son duo perform their blues-based music up and down the eastern seaboard at festivals and clubs. Their style is arrestingly soulful, with hints of folk, R&B, jazz, country, and bluegrass blending together in songs that might be classics, or might just sound like it.
Their shows feature a handsome range of instruments such as six and twelve string guitars, slide guitar, Dobro, harmonica, and the two voices that blend together like only family members can.
Special guest Phil Spoor has recently released his debut CD. He is a superb musician capable of handling a huge array of instruments and musical styles.
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 Susan Trump is a singer whose gentle voice and inspirational, uplifting songs, both original and traditional, have been crowd pleasers at Caffè Lena for years.
Her song writing prowess and outstanding instrumental skill on mountain dulcimer, guitar, and banjo can be heard on four solo recordings, including "Live at Caffe Lena" which captures the excitement of one of her "sold-out" weekend performances.
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 "If you miss an opportunity to hear Eric Taylor, you have missed a chance to hear a voice I consider the William Faulkner of songwriting in our current time." - Nanci Griffith
Eric Taylor has had a profound effect on the evolution of such well-known fellow Texas artists as Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, and others.
 He is a sage musician, a lyrical genius and a master of the guitar who learned his chops from Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb and Mississippi Fred McDowell . He has headlined the Newport Folk Festival, played NPR's "Mountain Stage" and appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman" and "Austin City Limits." This will be his first appearance at Caffè Lena.
Songwriter Danny Schmidt from Austin, TX will open the show.
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| Friday, August 10 • 8 PM |
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JAMCRACKERS |
| $15/12 |
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Peggy Lynn, Dan Duggan & Dan Berggren |
 With masterful harmonies and instrumental virtuosity, Peggy & "The Dans" have wowed audiences from Maine to California.
Peggy is noted for her extraordinary voice and soulful songs. Dan B joins in with a rich baritone and repertoire of original songs. Dan D is known nationally for his wizardry on hammered dulcimer and flat picked guitar.
This will be a night of sweet, old-fashioned sounding new folk songs that celebrate the people and culture of the Adirondacks.
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 Yes, this is the original Highwaymen, the popular folk group from the early 1960's that recorded Michael, Row the Boat Ashore, Big Rock Candy Mountain, and The Gypsy Rover.
During their heyday they scored a couple major hit singles, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and first recorded songs that went on to become hits for Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Beach Boys, and Buffy St. Marie.
Although all members of the group have pursued other careers they still make time for music, and after nearly fifty years the Higwaymen remain timely and delightful.
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 The exciting duo of Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau achieves a rare musical symbiosis. The husband and wife team have spent the last several years developing and perfecting their unique blend of Jazz, Brazilian, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret which has become their musical signature.
They engagingly perform the timeless standards of the Great American Songbook such as Berlin, Gershwin and Porter as well as the irresistible Brazilian melodies of Antonio Carlos Jobim.
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 For nearly 40 years Bill Staines has played Caffè Lena in July and January, packing the house every single time. His gentle folk songs and funny stories have become a family tradition for many, passing from parent to child and on down the line.
They've also become a tradition in the music world, having been recorded by Nanci Griffith, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, and others. Once you discover his brand of entertainment, you too will return year after year.
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 Nashville songwriter Kieran Kane's music is adult in the truest sense of the word. His explorations of mature love, friends' struggles with personal difficulties, and the meaning of life make for songs that are both philosophical and darn good music.
He has penned top ten singles for some of country's biggest stars, but his own songs are more austere and folk-based. He'll be accompanied by his son Lucas Kane on percussion.
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 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2005 Northeast Country Music Association "Bluegrass Band of the Year."
This band is all about playing good music and sharing a few laughs. Highlighted by vocal harmony, this quartet's superb arrangements and award-winning original material carries bluegrass forward, but never loosens its deep roots.
The line-up of long-time friends and collaborators is Tom Yanis on banjo, Joe Kilcullen on lead guitar, Bill Kilcullen on rhythm guitar, and Walt Yanis on bass.
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| Monday, August 20 • 7 to 9 PM |
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BOOK SIGNING AND CONCERT |
| FREE |
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CELEBRATING STEVE GOODMAN |
  Clay Eals of Seattle has written an 800-page biography of folk music legend Steve Goodman, best known for writing the 1970s train song and anthem, 'City
of New Orleans.'
Eals stops in at Caffe Lena this evening to share stories of Goodman culled from more than 1,000 interviews and will sign copies of Steve Goodman: Facing the Music. The impressive book contains more than 500 photos and an 18-track CD of songs written by others in tribute to Goodman.
The event would not be complete without a sample of Goodman's music,
presented tonight by Gary Moon of Lake George, Willie and Annie Nininger of
Southbury, Ct., and Mike Quick of Eleva, Wisconsin backed by Saratoga's own
Michael Jerling.
Eals is generously donating to Caffe Lena a portion of the proceeds from
book sales made at this event. |
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 With a nod to the great tradition of American string bands, and a wink to the classic 60s jug bands, this funky ensemble provides high-spirited good times on banjo, washboard, guitar, mandolin, dobro, kazoo and jug.
Those of you hip to the regional music scene may recognize Bowtie, Cousin Clyde, Mr. Eck, and Wild Bill from current and former starring roles with Blotto, The Star Spangled Washboard Band, Rumdummies, Stomplistics, Johnny Rabb's Rockhouse, The Plague, and the list goes on....
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 Adesso (formerly Cantaluna) is a group of Cambridge, NY musicians who perform lively and lyrical acoustic music in English and Italian.
The lead vocals of Ferrilyn Sourdiffe and Stephen Alcorn are embellished with the vocal harmonies of Shanti Mayer and Gwen Hall, and complemented by the sounds of acoustic guitar and hand percussion.
The group offers a warm and graceful sound very well received by a range of audiences.
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| Sunday, August 26 • 7 PM |
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MOP AND BUCKET COMPANY |
| $15/12 |
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| www.mopco.org |
 Based in Albany, the Mop & Bucket Co. is the area's oldest improvisational theater troupe.
Co-directors Michael Burns and Kat Koppett have assembled a top-notch company that will satisfy your hunger for a real theatrical experience. They guarantee a richer experience*. It's as simple as that.
From politics, to relationships, to current events and timeless universal experience, Mop & Bucket will have you on the edge of your seat as they take you on a high speed journey through laughter, pathos, enlightenment and more laughs. Try them once, and you'll be hooked!
*Void where prohibited by fussiness. Some audience participation required.
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 This exhuberant young "mountain pop" band from Ballston Spa made their Caffè Lena debut in our Emerging Artists Breakout. They won us over right quick! Why we like them: strong chops, rootsy yet contemporary, sparkling melodies, inventive and often comical lyrics, positive energy.
Happy Balky features "Odie Morningstar" on guitar and vocals, "Glenn Bacon" on banjo and vocals, "The Stranger" on mandolin and harmonica (and some other stuff, too), and "Stagger Lee" handles the low end. |
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