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| Matthew Loiacono, 2008 |
Cuddle Magic, 2008 |
Sally Spring, 2008 |
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PDF Downloads:
Full Calendar
(2.6 MB) Dec-Feb |
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Fridge Calendar
(156 KB) Dec-Feb |
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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Calendar
May 2009
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| Listed ticket prices are: Non-Member / Member. Tickets sold at door cost additional $2. |
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 Sally Spring is a veteran folk-rocker who, after decades in the music business, is revered by her peers and known far and wide to fans of excellent songwriting. Her latest CD, Mockingbird, features guest appearances by long-time collaborators Gene Parsons, Tift Merritt and Marshall Crenshaw.
But, without doubt, the star of the album is Sally herself. Hailed as "a show stopper"…"gorgeous alto" (Sing Out!), "striking…first-rate compositions" (No Depression), "soulful and gritty" (Uncut, UK), "stunning voice and captivating songwriting" (Independent), Sally Spring has a commanding presence.
She is well established in the south and on the west coast, but is a new discovery for most northeast audiences. Caffè Lena is proud to present her as a duo with her husband, Ted Lyons (John Lee Hooker, Chris Stamey), on guitar and percussion.
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 Genuine country boys from the farthest northern reaches of New York State, the Gibsons grew up on old-time music and farming. In their teens they began playing at church and it's been a steady ascent ever since.
Their songs reflect the elegance of Emmylou Harris, the country harmonies of Buck Owens and Don Rich, and the picking of Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. After ten years of touring they made their Grand Ole Opry debut in 2003 and have released a record a year since then.
Their latest CD, 2008's Iron and Diamonds, hit #5 on Billboard's Bluegrass chart in its first week; reached #1 in the October issue of Bluegrass Unlimited; and the track "Cabin Down Below" hit #1 on XM Radio's Bluegrass Junction.
The band's newest member, mandolinist Joe Walsh, will join guitarists/vocalists Eric and Leigh Gibson, and long-time bass player Mike Barber.
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 The Refugees are Cindy Bullens, Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland, three excellent songwriters from the rock, folk and country realms with long, impressive resumes. They sing and harmonize marvelously, provide varied accompaniment, and take obvious enjoyment in their friendship and the live music experience.
Cindy started out in Elton John's band and went on to win a Grammy nomination for best rock vocal performance. Deborah Holland, former lead singer for Animal Logic, has released four solo CDs and garnered much praise for lyrics that range from gritty to humorous. Wendy Waldman's distinguished career includes writing credits for dozens of multi-platinum songs.
Over 70 artists have recorded her work, including Reba McIntyre, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Linda Ronstadt.
After a couple years of casual gigging, the trio has established their staying power with the early 2009 release of their debut album, Unbound (Wabuho Records). Already the disk is garnering critical acclaim for its crowd-pleasing melodies and spectacular harmony singing.
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Roberta Gould's work has appeared in many literary magazines and she is the author of nine books, the latest Louder Than Seeds, Foothills Publishing, 2008. Her work is varied, covering themes of nature, love and social issues, among others.
She works with several groups in solidarity with Haiti and Latin America and has lived and studied in Mexico where she organized educational campaigns on responsible tourism for visitors from abroad.
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 “He is the missing link between Paul McCartney and Cole Porter.”
—Seth Rogovoy
Cliff Eberhardt's guitar and piano melodies range from pop to folk to old-style jazz, with lyrics that find fresh, incisive ways to  address the familiar themes of life gone good and bad.
His 2008 release The High Above and the Down Below comes at the end of a long period of reckoning following a severe car accident that left him in constant pain, but still performing, for several years.
"Don't waste your time on nursery rhymes, try living while you're here," Cliff's bluesy voice cries on the opening track. From melancholy to sweet optimism, the collection is the work of a mature and tested performer with the highest level of craftsmanship, superb guitar skills, and deeply committed singing.
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 “What their singing does for the soul - THAT is what music is for” -Eric
Darling
These Caffe favorites perform sweet, joyful, original songs flavored by the sounds and images of their home in the Santa Cruz Valley of Arizona.
Victoria has one of the richest, loveliest voices imaginable, while playing keyboard and guitar. Husband Don rounds out the vocals while leading with driving guitar and banjo.
In addition to a busy touring schedule, the Armstrongs are highly acclaimed songwriters whose work has been recorded by Judy Collins, John Denver, Bill Staines and others. Their long awaited ninth CD, "Los Dos- Songs of Old and New Mexico," is due out at the end of April.
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Sunday, May 10 • 7 PM
See below for pricing....
www.gospeltrainmusic.com
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Wildwood Flower:
Songs of the Original Carter Family,
A Mother’s Day Concert Presented by
The Gospel Train and Friends
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Dinner Buffet from Hatties |
 Not only is today Mother's Day, but it is also the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mother Maybelle Carter. To celebrate this special occasion we bring to you The Gospel Train featuring Tom Lindsay and Michael Eck in a tribute to the timeless songs of the Carter Family and a loving nod to mothers everywhere.
Special guests include Ashley Pond, a Caffè headliner in her own right, on guitar and vocals, and Ryan Dunham (vocals/harmonica) & Joe Gumpper (fiddle) from the old-time country band Red Haired Strangers.
 We can think of no better way to honor Mother Maybelle's contribution to American music than with a selection of great classics such as "Keep On The Sunny Side," "Hello Stranger," "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and many others.
Enjoy dinner before the show. Our buffet style dinner will be provided by Hattie's restaurant and will feature their famous fried chicken, red beans, cornbread and cole slaw. We'll open the doors at 6 PM, a full hour before showtime to give you time to enjoy your meal.
The pricing is:
Non-Members: $15 show only / $30 with buffet
Members: $12 show only / $27 with buffet
Kids under 13: $7.50 show only / $22.50 with buffet |
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| Wednesday, May 13 • 7 PM |
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Storytelling Open Mic |
| $3 |
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 Hearing the songs of Michael Smith in this day and age is like reading an anthology of short stories by Hemingway after decades of only comic books. His songs, resonant in layers of myth and magic, hold a whole lot more than new songs are usually expected to hold.
Rolling Stone Magazine has referred to Michael Smith as "the greatest songwriter in the English language;" Chicago Magazine dubbed him "an enchanting & riveting performer;" and Sing Out! acknowledges that he "stands out as one of the undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters."
A stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary folk music's premier vocalists. But her ability to find and write unforgettable songs have brought her to the upper echelon of her craft. Her former bandmate Tom Paxton says of her, she is "such an exquisite singer that it's understandable that people might be swept up in the pure beauty of her voice and thereby overlook her writing. That would be a mistake. For me, Anne's writing… is as direct, melodic and deep as any work being done today. She is quite simply one of my absolute favorite songwriters." |
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This is Caffè Lena¹s annual celebration of that most enduringly popular brand of folk music: acoustic blues. Each year around this time we fill our room with the mesmerizing, sweet and sad sounds of the Mississippi Delta.
This year we welcome:
Mark Tolstrup & Dale Haskell
Root Blues Revival - Saratoga's own slide guitar master, Mark Tolstrup, performing with world-class percussionist / harmony vocalist Dale Haskell on Delta blues and Tin Pan Alley classics.
Jon Shain
Coming to us from North Carolina, Jon specializes in the Piedmont blues. He's an ace fingerstyle and harmonica player who can turn out fine versions of the genre's classics, but especially shines when playing his own memorable songs.
Glenn Weiser
An author of guitar and harmonica books, a music critic for Metroland, and a well-know local guitar teacher, Glenn Weiser takes the classic down-home blues and "serves old wine in new bottles" by reworking the guitar parts in own inimitable style and adding rack-mounted harmonica.
WORKSHOPS, $25 each:
Glenn Weiser—2 PM
In the his workshop, Glenn will teach movable guitar chords commonly used in the blues, right-hand strumming and picking patterns, string bending techniques, and give examples of 12, 8, and 16-bar blues.
Jon Shain—4 PM
Open Tunings and Slide Guitar Technique
This class is designed for beginners and intermediate students. We'll
discuss the various open tunings used in blues playing, talk about finding
the right slide for your hand, and delve into the techniques used in getting
great tone. These are the same techniques employed by everyone from Robert
Johnson to Ry Cooder, Elmore James to Derek Trucks.
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Concert for Kids
3 PM
$10 adult / $5 child under 13 |
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Today Ellis Paul treats audiences to two sides of his craft. In the afternoon he'll perform a special concert for children featuring songs from his new CD, Dragonfly Races, his first family album. It bubbles with buoyant, hummable songs that appeal to kids and parents and incites good conversation between them.
As simple as the songs are, they don't duck tough issues; Paul turns lazy dragonflies, gentle monsters, and resilient roses into useful metaphors for world peace, the power of faith, and the delights of a sleepy day.
In the  evening Ellis re-takes the stage with a concert for adult fans. As one of the principle leaders in the 1990s Boston folk scene, Paul is credited with revitalizing the national acoustic circuit with an urban, literate, folk-pop style that helped renew interest in the folk genre.
His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a generation of artists and bridged the gulf between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. |
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| Wednesday, May 20 • 7 PM |
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Emerging Artist Breakout Series |
| $5 |
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Todd Londen |
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 Geoff Muldaur is one of the great voices and musical forces to emerge from the folk-rock scene centered in Cambridge, MA and Woodstock, NY in the 1960s. During the '60s and '70s, Geoff made a series of highly influential  recordings as a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and Paul Butterfield's Better Days.
During a hiatus in the 1980s he composed scores for film and television, earning an Emmy in the process. With his magical voice and singular approach to American music, Geoff is once again touring the world with his unusually crafted interpretations of classic, oftentimes obscure, American material as well as his own unique gospel and blues-based compositions.
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 They're back together again, but only for a precious few, not-to-be-missed concerts. Amy Fradon and Leslie Ritter's luscious vocal harmonies as session singers for Orleans, Rick Danko, John Sebastian and Dr. John led to their twelve-year collaboration as a duo.
As singer-songwriters they recorded six albums and reached their commercial apex nationally with their rendition of the Yes classic "Your Move," which topped the Billboard charts and aired as a video on VH1.
Joining them for this special reunion performance will be Grammy-nominated producer and bassist Scott Petito and guitarist and vocalist Helen Avakian.
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| Sunday, May 24 • 7 PM |
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5th Annual Memorial Day Open Stage |
| FREE |
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Co-Sponsored by Adirondack Veterans for Peace,
Chapter 147 and Saratoga Peace Alliance |
| www.peaceact.net/spa.htm |
 This event has become one of our favorite traditions at Caffè Lena, each year bringing together poets, songwriters, storytellers, and speech-makers for a respectful and deep-hearted sharing of views about our soldiers, and conflicts past and present.
All styles and points of view are welcome. Excessive profanity is strongly discouraged. No advance reservations will be accepted. Performer sign-up goes from 7 to 7:30. Performances will get underway at 7:30.
Time limits will be determined by the number of participants. This event is co-sponsored by the Saratoga Peace Alliance.
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 Same Blood Folk is a spirited trio whose style is heavily influenced by traditional musicians, from folk to bluegrass and rock to blues. Intricate guitar finger-work, solid beats, and harmonies that melt the soul are characteristic of Same Blood Folk's original songs.
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 Veteran singer-songwriters James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf have added one more album to the more than thirty acoustic rock albums they share between them. They took classic Rolling Stones songs and rearranged them for acoustic guitar, added rich vocal harmonies, and created the critically acclaimed collection All Wood and Stones.
USA Today wrote, "Batdorf and Stanley have turned the rock grooves inside out, adopted stylish arrangements and made no attempt to ape the originals, unveiling the elegance of the melodies and allowing radically new interpretations of songs long tattooed in boomer DNA."
Stanley and Batdorf bring those songs and more to the Caffè Lena stage tonight, along with good-humored and fascinating tales of lives spent zigzagging the country as guitar slingers, recording for movies and commercials, and even playing minor roles in major motion pictures.
James Lee Stanley is known to Caffè Lena audiences for his several appearances in the past few years with Peter Tork of the Monkees. This will be Batdorf's Caffè Lena debut.
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 The versatile and engaging Dyer Switch Band brings together hard-driving renditions of traditional tunes from first-generation bluegrass giants such as Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley with their own fresh and innovative originals inspired by diverse genres.
Performing since 1992, the line-up features the distinctive vocal and instrumental versatility of Tom Benson (mandolin, vocals, guitar), JoAnn Sifo (guitar and vocals), Bob Altschuler (banjo and Dobro), Nick Viscio (fiddle and vocals), and Randy Jennings (bass and vocals). The band was inducted into the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame, and was nominated for five consecutive years as Bluegrass Band of the Year by the Northeast Country Music Association.
Dyer Switch has received considerable airplay in North America and Europe, and a song written by band member JoAnn Sifo hit #1 on the European country charts.
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 In the past couple years this fast-rising trio has played its rootsy, American country-tinged music around the world, headlined major festivals, won awards, and toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
Their latest album, Viridian, was nominated at the Grammy Awards in 2008 for 'Best Country Instrumental Performance.' Carol Young plays bass and sings most of the songs; Kym Warner picks the mandolin and bouzouki, while Eamon McLoughlin plays fiddle and viola.
The most conspicuous thing they have in common is that, despite their twangy southern musical vibe, none of the Greencards are American. McLoughlin is English. Warner and Young are Australians. Lucky we are they've put their greencards to such good use!
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| May 30 to June 2 |
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Reckless A play by Craig Lucas |
General admission: $10
Students: $7 |
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Produced by Channel Z Productions Young Adult Repertory Company |
| www |
May 30 & 31: 1:30 PM
June 1 & 2: 7:00 PM
At home on Christmas Eve, Rachel's husband Tom tells her a terrifying secret. Rachel flees her home and begins a series of picaresque escapades that involve living with strangers, going on a TV game show, a talk show, and seeing numerous psychiatrists.
This dark comedy is filled with bizarre characters and events reflecting the fractured life-styles that have become the norm for so many in our tenuous times.
Advance reservations are encouraged.
Pick up your tickets at least 15 minutes before curtain as reservations are released at that time to those waiting.
Reservations can be made by calling 583-0022, ext. 94. |
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Photo:
Matthew Loiacono
© 2008, Joseph Deuel
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Photo:
Cuddle Magic
© 2008, Joseph Deuel
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Photo:
Sally Spring
© 2008, Joseph Deuel
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Copyright © 1998-2010, Caffè Lena, Inc.
All Rights Reserved |
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