All ticket sales are handled by our box office service, Brown Paper Tickets.
Tickets are available online, or through a 24/7 call-in box office.
See our Ticket Info page. |
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| Wednesday, April 2 • 7 PM |
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Poetry Open Mic |
| $3 |
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Official Release of Every Drop of Water: Voices from the Caffè Lena Poetry Stage
n 2005 Carol Graser, a local poet and poetry supporter, stepped forward to revive Caffè Lena's long-neglected poetry program. Since then Caffè Lena has enjoyed monthly poetry open mics, each highlighting a featured reader. This chapbook, the first ever released by the coffeehouse, contains twenty-five poems read during the open mic's first two years.
Authors will be present to read their selections throughout this evening, and the book will be available for sale for the first time. The book is privately published and handcrafted. The cost is $12.
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 Ronny Cox is famed for roles in countless movies and TV series, including Beverly Hills Cop, Total Recall, RoboCop, and Deliverance (including the legendary "Dueling Banjos" scene).
Less known is that he is also a first-rate songwriter and storyteller, by turns insightful, hilarious, and engaging. Ronny's easy style and strong musicianship has been seen in performances with Richard Thompson, Guy Clarke, Leon Redbone, the Roches, and many others.
The Boston Globe calls Ronny "...a study in easygoing amiability and unforced charisma. He charms crowds with self-teasing humor, tart progressive insight, and a lulling Southwestern folk sound."
He'll be appearing at Caffè Lena with his full band.
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 This nimble, stripped down five-piece folk band from Boston (with frontmen originally from Schenectady) plays a wealth of original material inspired by blues, country, folk, pop, and rock, and throws in a few covers just for fun.
The sound is reminiscent of Neil Young meets Nickel Creek. The players are Andy Campolieto and Ben Lee writing songs and playing guitar, with Tim Weed on fiddle and mandolin, rock-steady Alex Lynch on bass, and Tien-Yi Lee breathing light into the songs with her jazz inflected drumming.
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| Sunday, April 6 • 2 PM |
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A Celebration of National Poetry Month |
$5 |
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In celebration of National Poetry Month, Caffè Lena offers a program of poetry written
by and about women. Five award-winning poets will read their works: Barbara Ungar, Nancy White, Elaine Handley, Marilyn McCabe and Mary Sanders Shartle.
In addition, Handley, McCabe and Shartle will be joined by Lauren Vanko and Caroline Seligman in reading from Emma Saves Her Life, a book of poems based on the letters of author Naton Leslie's grandmother. Born in the mountains of Appalachia in 1907, Emma tells stories about her life which reverberate with wisdom, humor and pathos.
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 Jazz singer Jeanne O'Connor returns to Caffè Lena with her clear, expressive alto voice and stellar band. She has performed as a soloist with jazz combos and big bands throughout the New York City region and beyond.
She has appeared at the Blue Note, the Rainbow Room, the Cat Club, and many other top jazz clubs. Now a full-time resident of Saratoga, she'll be backed by Peg Delaney on piano, Pete Toigo on bass, and Pete Sweeney on drums. Together they'll perform pieces from the Great American Songbook, Brazilian music, pop, and R&B.
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| Wednesday, April 9 • 7 PM |
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Lake George Opera-to-Go |
| $15 |
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Lake George Opera at Saratoga will once again rattle the rafters at Caffè Lena with an evening of songs and arias from opera to Broadway.
This year's singers will be soprano Jessica Norris, mezzo sopranos Nadine Kulberg and Rebeca Saslow, tenor Daniel Hinson, baritone Michael Certo.
Piano accompaniment will be provided by Michael Clement.
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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."
Ellis is an exuberant young artist from Minneapolis with a contemporary folk style and lyrics that range from deeply meaningful to light-hearted. She was voted Most Wanted Back among the new artists presented at Falcon Ridge, 2006, and has received national recognition for her songwriting.
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| Saturday, April 12 • 8 PM |
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2nd Annual Showcase of Stand-Up Comedy |
| $12/10 |
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| More.... |
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| Marcy Hausman, Russ Davignon, Steve Smoller, Sharon Dyer, Judi Clements and Jon Hausman |
Last May we took the plunge and ushered an unpredictable pack of stand-up comedians onto our folk music stage, and are we ever glad we did! We had so much fun that we've turned it into an annual happening.
We promise another riotous evening of entertainment that is free of naughty words, reasonably clean, and packed with smart, bust-a-gut humor.
Our six comedians are Marcy Hausman, Russ Davignon, Steve Smoller, Sharon Dyer, Judi Clements, and Jon Hausman.
Read their bios.... |
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| Sunday, April 13 • 7 PM |
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Songs of 1969 |
| $19.69 |
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A Benefit for Caffè Lena |
| To be held at the Skidmore College Dance Theater |
More Info....
Caffè Lena offers another in its hugely popular series of Tribute Nights with a celebration of that pivotal music year, 1969.
It was the year of the Woodstock Festival, the peak of the peace and love era, and top radio hits included Aquarius, Sugar Sugar, Get Together, Proud Mary, Get Back . . . .
The Capital District's favorite professional bands and solo artists are joining together to play the songs you love and support the historic Caffè Lena. Details are still shaping up as we go to press, but acts definitely are:
- Rick Bolton and The Dwyer Sisters with Arlin Greene and Tim Wechgelaer
- Sirsy
- 28N
- Mallory O'Donnell & Friends
- Addie & Olin--Unleashed!
- S I M P L E Theory
- Stompin Jug Ramblers
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  Annie Gallup and Terence Martin share the knack of revealing haunting poetry in life's small moments of grace, beauty and humor.
Dirty Linen has called Annie "the musical daughter of Joni Mitchell and Lou Reed . . . whose stream-of-consciousness narratives of strange but vivid characters share space with diamond-cut confessional vignettes of off-center and sometimes reckless romances."
Terence, too, tells captivating tales, such as the theft of Hank Williams' tombstone, a journey through the 'lost hills' with Dylan playing on the radio, or a sleepless night with the melody of an old Santo and Johnny song wafting through the window.
His experience as a symphony bassist, touring rock musician and published poet converge to great effect in his gentle folk songs.
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 These three award-winners hail from the rock, folk/acoustic, and country realms. Each will perform an array of her own songs accompanied by the other two on a multitude of instruments and glorious harmonies.
Cindy started out in Elton John's band and went on to win a Grammy nomination for best rock vocal performance and a 2000 American Federation of Independent Music Award for Best Rock Album.
Former lead singer for Animal Logic, Deborah Holland has released four solo CDs and garnered much praise for her gritty, incisive lyrics, couched in a mixture of folk, rock, blues, and jazz.
Wendy Waldman's distinguished career includes eight critically acclaimed solo albums and writing credits for dozens of multi-platinum songs in genres from country to pop, film, jazz, children's music, and R&B. Over 70 artists have recorded her songs, including Reba McIntyre, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Linda Ronstadt.
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| Sunday, April 20 |
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Closed for Passover |
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 From upbeat, jocular pop to all out rock, sweet electronics to witty old-school swing, Erin McKeown has packed a ton of music into her young career. With 5 albums, 2 EPs, and numerous soundtracks and compilations to her credit, the 29-year-old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hasn't stopped for a breather in the last ten years.
From Letterman and Conan to festivals and stages big and small she plays guitar and banjo and flaunts an off-handed, tomboyish exuberance that is irresistible.
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| Brooks Williams |
Dakota Dave Hull |
Ken Bonfield |
This mini-festival will celebrate that most essesntial of folk instruments, the acoustic guitar.
With workshops and a concert, guitar fans will have the chance to spend a day with three masterful players.
Come learn their best tips and techniques, or simply watch them inspire each other to ever-greater heights of fretboard prowess.
Our players are:
Brooks Williams
From Northampton, MA. Hailed as "an acoustic guitar god" whose playing is "electrifying," "dazzling," and "breathtaking" Brooks’ style is rooted in blues, and finds full flower with elements of jazz, classical and folk.
Dakota Dave Hull
From Minneapolis. He has received accolades from many, including Dave Van Ronk and Doc Watson. He’s known for his fleet and playful renditions of jazz, ragtime, folk, blues, Western swing, and vintage pop.
Ken Bonfield
From Massachusetts. Ken is a contemporary composer who uses Celtic nuances to express awe, bluegrass to express joy, rock and blues to create tension and humor, and classical to create depth and melancholy.
The only common denominator is the guitar itself.
Workshops
1 to 5 PM
$20 each or $60 for all three.
See: Workshop details |
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| Sunday, April 27 • 7 PM |
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Terri Roben |
| $12/10 |
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with guests Sten Isachsen, Ramblin Jug Stompers, Gail Smallwood and Caitlin Granados |
| www.terriroben.com |
 Terri Roben is well known to area audiences for her long career singing folksongs with children, adults and peace-loving people everywhere. She plays guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer and a little fiddle and drum, and sings in a rich, easy voice.
Terri will be releasing a brand new CD tonight, joining two previous albums including Riverwalk & Other Songs, an album for families that inspired Pete Seeger to write "You're a good songwriter - Keep on!"
Terri is bringing with her guitarist/mandolinist Sten Isachsen, hand drummer Gail Smallwood, singer Caitlin Granados, AND the Ramblin' Jug Stompers! |
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