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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, Dec. 3 • 7 PM |
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Poetry Open Mic |
| $3 |
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With Featured Reader Michael R. Brown |
| michael.brown.name |
Michael R. Brown has published four books of poetry, most recently "The Confidence Man" (Princeton: Ragged Sky, 2007). He has performed poetry, taught classes, and lectured from the South side of Chicago to South Korea.
He created Dr. Brown's Traveling Poetry Circus, a theater production that won "Best Poetry Troupe" at the 2004 Cambridge Poetry Awards. Brown brought the poetry slam to New England, and in 2007 moved to Down East Maine where he and his partner run a poetry series and have taken over publication of the poetry journal Off the Coast.
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| Brooks |
Toby |
Enjoy a night of superb acoustic blues and sparkling personalities with Statesboro, GA native Brooks Williams, and Long Island's own bluesman Little Toby Walker.
Williams is a self-taught guitarist who ranks with Kottke, Fahey, and other greats of the fingerstyle tradition. 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.
Walker is a riotous storyteller and master fingerstyle guitarist. He mixes original songs with traditional blues, western swing and ragtime on an authentic 1930 National Steel Guitar. Toby learned directly from the great musicians of an earlier era, including Etta Baker, Jack Owens and many others. He's a regular instructor at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch.
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11 AM
Brooks Williams
"Adventuresome Guitar"
Students will learn to think of the guitar as a self-contained rhythm section. Topics include bass runs, rhythm & groove, chords beyond the first four frets, and playing melody and chords at the same time. Brooks is a teacher in high-demand on the summer guitar camp circuit, giving regular workshops at The Swannanoa Gathering, Alaska-Midnight Sun Song Camp, Cedar Run Song Workshops, Newport Guitar Festival, and WUMB's Summer Acoustic Music Week, to name but a few.
1 PM
Little Toby Walker
"Hot Licks"
Take your playing to a new level with a guitar workshop from Toby Walker. Toby is a master of the fingerpicking country blues styles and has been teaching them for over 25 years. A regular teacher at Jorma Kaukonen's (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane) Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, Toby will not only teach you hot licks and techniques but will also show you how to apply these to songs you already know.
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| Anthony |
Greg |
Born in Buffalo on his father's bowling night, Greg Klyma grew up in a blue-collar town with a blue-collar work ethic and an appreciation of blue-collar fun. After spending the past decade as a traveling musician, Greg has racked up numerous songwriting awards and released a new album, Rust Belt Vagabond, an exploration of his own shortcomings, the way we depend on each other, and the healing power of love.
His material is diverse, ranging from historical ballads to outrageously funny bar songs, and even songs improvised in the moment.
Anthony da Costa is the teenager now known to folk fans up and down the East coast as "the very, very young man, with a very, very old soul." During 2008 Anthony celebrated his 17th birthday, released his sixth CD, opened for Loretta Lynn, was profiled in The New York Times, performed at the Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, Philadelphia and Woody Guthrie Folk Festivals, debuted in Europe and was nominated as Folk Alliance Emerging Artist of the Year.
Style-wise, Anthony's songs travel the trail blazed by Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings-a tender, bittersweet exploration of love and loss. It's resonating with audiences like nothing the folk world has witnessed since the arrival of Bob Dylan.
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 Albany's own Tas Cru takes the Caffè Lena stage for a night of original Mississippi Delta-style blues played on resonator guitar. His knack for the double entendre adds dark sparkle to every song, spanning the spectrum from stark tragedy to delighted hilarity.
No stranger to the Delta itself, Tas travels south regularly to play the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MI, has represented the Northeast Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and has performed alongside the likes of Mem Shannon and Tab Benoit in benefits for Katrina victims.
He's also well-known to area school children as the guy who shows up in class and teaches them how to make their own tiny resonator guitars out of Altoids boxes, all the while introducing them to the beauty and soul of that most American of musical traditions, the Delta blues.
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New York singer-songwriter Julia Ilowiecki writes in a pop style and accompanies herself on keyboards. Her light melodies and honest lyrics bear influences of Carly Simon and Sheryl Crow.
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 Wouldn't you love to hear what the Weavers would sing for us today if only they were still here inspiring, bringing hope, and opening our hearts? Find out tonight as this more-than-tribute group shares contemporary would-be Weavers songs along with some well-known favorites.
This foursome has wowed the folk world with their ability to imitate the sounds and arrangements of the original Weavers, and earned the warmest praise from Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes for carrying forward the Weavers' social and musical mission.
The band features David Bernz on banjo, James Durst on guitar, Mark Murphy on bass, with all three singing in harmony with vocalist Martha Sandefer on the classic mix of international music and traditional ballads, work songs and hymns, lullabies and anthems.
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| Saturday, Dec. 13 • 8 PM |
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John, Trish, Addie, Olin, Linda & David:
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$15/12 |
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Holiday Folk Concert |
 A.K.A Caffè Lena’s Candlemas-Hanukkah-Ramadan-Solstice-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year-Boxing Day-Epiphany Event!
It's one Big Tent for all with our annual pan-cultural, zany and joyful holiday celebration. Three husband-and-wife teams offer sacred and secular songs of the season, along with plenty of jolly high spirits and playful holiday decoration.
Trish & David play banjo, Olin & Linda play guitar, Addie joins in on sax, piccolo and accordion, and someone is bound to haul out a concertina. And everyone, including the audience, sings like an angel.
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Give your children and grandchildren a chance to fall in love with folk music, just like you did! The Highwaymen are offering a special one-hour afternoon concert for youngsters that mixes beautifully performed folk classics, along with magic tricks and stories.
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 This is indeed 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 (including Assistant U.S. Attorney General!) they still make time for music, and after nearly fifty years the Higwaymen remain timely and delightful. |
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| Wednesday, Dec. 17 • 7 PM |
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Emerging Artists Breakout |
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Charlie Phillips |
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| Friday, Dec. 19 • 7 PM & 9:30 PM |
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The Figgs |
$14/12 , $20 for both shows
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| www.thefiggs.net |
 Formed in Saratoga Springs in 1987, the ever-popular power-pop savants the Figgs are known coast to coast for memorable live shows, a steady stream of albums, singles, and EP's, and for backing the likes of Graham Parker and Tommy Stinson.
Their most recent album, Follow Jean Through the Sea, is full of bright invention and ultra-tight playing that takes the basic power pop formula and makes it sound fresh, raw, and exciting again.
This band features Pete Donnelly, Mike Gent and Pete Hayes on guitar, bass, drums, and infectious harmony vocals.
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 Enjoy a Winter Solstice of Irish holiday music featuring imaginative originals that sound traditional, alongside centuries-old Irish ballads that sound modern.
This husband-and-wife duo offer heavenly vocals, Irish flute & whistles, guitar, and stellar songwriting.
Traditional carols such "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," "The Wexford Carol" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem," blend with their own "Fine Winter's Night" and "First Snowfall of December," along with high-energy reels and jigs.
Matt and Shannon are renowned for their stunning musicianship, easy rapport with audiences, and a selection of songs you won't hear anywhere else.
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| Ray |
Tequila Mockingbirds |
Phil |
A Benefit for Caffè Lena
This concert is a Christmas gift to Caffè Lena from a fun-loving group of Saratoga musicians. In the spirit of the season, these fine players have stepped forward to offer a special program of Christmas music to raise money for their hometown folk club.
The all-star line-up features Tequila Mockingbirds, two-time winners of Metroland Magazine's Best Acoustic Act; Ray Pashoukos, the longest-serving host of Caffè Lena's first Thursday Open Mic night; and fingerstyle bluesman Phil Drum.
Opening the show will be the one-of-a-kind all-girl Beatles Tribute Band The She-tles, under the direction of Tequila Mockingbirds co-star George Fletcher.
Your ticket purchase will support the programming and upkeep of Caffè Lena, all while enjoying a great night of seasonal music! |
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 For more than 25 years these local favorites have performed the music of America with humor and taste. From Hank Williams and the Carter Family to Muddy Waters, Fats Waller and Elvis Presley, they cover all the bases with grace and style.
This contemporary string band combines the talents of John Kribs (Johnny & the Triumphs/McKrells) on guitar, banjo and mandolin; award-winning guitarist Danny Gotham on mandolin, electric slide guitar and acoustic guitar; and Orion Kribs on bass. |
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 “Priscilla Herdman (is) one of the clearest and most compelling voices of contemporary folk music.” —Stephen Holden, The New York Times
“Excellent taste in material and an elegant, pitch-perfect voice.” —Rolling Stone
Priscilla Herdman has established herself as an insightful song-finder and a singer of uncommon range, depth and clarity. In 30 years of performing and recording, Priscilla has won a devoted audience both nationally and abroad. Known for her exceptional voice and admired for her ability to find outstanding songs by contemporary writers, she has a gift for choosing timeless material that touches the heart of both the personal and the political.
Her insightful interpretations and compelling stage presence continue to bring rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. She'll be featuring songs from her brand new CD, Into The Stars, as well as favorite songs from her earlier recordings.
Priscilla lives in New York's Hudson River Valley Region, and has recently joined forces with Massachusetts guitarist Max Cohen, whose exquisite finger-style playing is a perfect compliment to Priscilla's elegant and powerful vocals. |
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 Dan Berggren is a familiar presence in libraries, schools, and concert venues across New York. For the past thirty years he has collected, written and sung gentle folk songs about his Adirondack home. Inspired by the stories and songs of rural neighbors, Dan has developed a ballad style that explores the many dimensions of home, hard-working people, and taking care of our planet and each other.
He has played his music for audiences far and wide, including in Zimbabwe, Bulgaria, and on a three-week tour of Romania with the group Common Thread. Vermont Public Radio calls Dan, "A genuine treasure. Fresh and timeless, full of courage and down to earth richness."
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 With Jeremy Wallace Trio and Beaucoup Blue.
Buy a 1st Night Badge and enjoy these and many other shows all around town!
Happy New Year!
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