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| Graham Parker, 2009 |
Peppino D'Agostino, 2009 |
Meg Hutchinson, 2009 |
Peter Mulvey, 2009 |
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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
January 2010
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Members receive 20% discount on most shows. Tickets sold at door cost additional $2.
Doors open 30 min. before showtime. Please, no earlybirds! |
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 Steve Gillette's songs, including "Darcy Farrow," "Happy Hour" and "Back on the Street Again," have been recorded by the likes of Tammy Wynette, Ian & Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot and Garth Brooks.
Cindy plays dulcimer, guitar, banjo and concertina and  sings with a smooth, silky voice utterly lacking in affectation. In concert, these long-time Caffè Lena favorites cover a variety of country and folk styles, blending world-class professionalism with down-home, informal charm.
Massachusetts songwriter Michael Troy has been a mill worker, fisherman, laborer and carpenter, but he always comes back to his first love: music. His songs radiate integrity, and his distinctive, granite-edged voice lends depth to all he sings.
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 Christine Lavin is one of the leading lights of the folk world, entertaining live and in recordings with side-splittingly hilarious, improbable songs. She writes for various periodicals and books, hosts radio programs, and generally uses her prodigious talents to make the world happier and smarter through folk music.
She takes the stage armed only with a guitar, a miner's headlamp, a pair of batons, and boundless insight into popular culture, and proceeds to delight with giddy stories, rants, and riotous original songs on a broad spectrum of unlikely subjects, from sensitive New Age guys to "permanent reminders of temporary fads."
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| Wednesday, Jan. 6 • 7 PM |
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Poetry Open Mic |
| $3 at the door |
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With Featured Reader Barbara Vink |
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Barbara Vink has been coordinating the Voorheesville Public Library's "Every Other Thursday Night Poets" since it started in 1991. She also hosts Poetry Performance Day events, and has been in a performance trio for several years with Tom Corrado and Larry Rapant. She has read her poetry at many local venues and was one of the editors and contributors to the anthology Poetry Don't Pump.
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 This young blugrass band from Alaska, winners of the prestigious Telluride Band Contest, takes a fresh approach to acoustic music featuring twin fiddles, fast-picking mandolin and guitar, upright bass, and beautiful harmony vocals.
Whether performing their original Americana/bluegrass songs, freshly arranged traditionals, or covers of contemporary tunes, Bearfoot's exuberant stage presence bridges generations. "It bounces, it swings, it dives head-first into minor keys and unexpected (but totally workable) phrasings. In other words, it's very cool. —Bluegrass Unlimited description |
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 Playing a little folk, a tinge of rock, some country, and loads of gritty blues, northern New Jersey's Jeremy Wallace Trio pumps out "Americana with a Bite."
The band (Jeremy on vocals, guitar and piano; Matt Gruenberg on upright bass, and Tom Costagliola on drums) has immediate appeal for fans of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and Bruce Springsteen. National audiences are soon to discover their phenomenal talent as the Jeremy Wallace Trio recently won the Sedalia Blues Festival Competition, thus earning them the right to compete for the first time in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in late Jan.
Stop up tonight to get a taste of Americana you can really sink your teeth into, and wish the band the best in the contest that may well launch them onto the national stage.
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 “The distinguishing feature throughout is the couple's caressing harmonies, which carry on the legacy of Johnny and June, Gram and Emmylou.” —Maverick
This duo mixes country rock and down-home, back-porch ballads to create a sound that's something like the Carter Family meets Crazy Horse. The musical richness, spine-tingling harmonies, and psychological depth of their music is irrefutable proof that the Guthrie family tradition is alive and well.
Sarah Lee and Johnny have recently entered a fresh phase in their musical lives with the release of their first children's CD, Go Waggaloo, on Smithsonian Folkways. The couple's two daughters, plus Sarah's father Arlo Guthrie, and Pete Seeger and Pete's grandson Tao, join together on this 13-track disc.
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  Zack duPont of Burlington, VT is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Authenticity and truth are the core values that nourish the vulnerability of his song craft. He is not afraid to dwell in the most extreme of emotions. His acoustic songs create a surprisingly pleasant tension that is sure to entice.
Kelly Zullo is a rising singer-songwriter formerly of Saratoga and now based in Nashville. Playing her instrument as percussion and guitar at once, Kelly's tribal strumming and singing create a unique and passionate slant on the singer-songwriter art. Featured in the Nashville music scene as one of the best three unsigned female acts on the circuit, Kelly has opened for some of her favorite artists such as Melissa Ferrick and Natalia Zukerman, and released two fully produced albums.
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 This Philadelphia father-and-son duo offer reverential, arrestingly soulful songs based in blues tradition, with strong elements of soul, R&B, folk, and country. They play a handsome range of instruments and blend voices like only family members can.
After developing a strong following in the Northeast, Beaucoup Blue is now getting national attention following the release of their 2009 CD Free to Fall.
 The disc is getting heavy radio and internet play, and is a favorite of magazine reviewers.
"Their voices work superbly together, frequently attaining a mesmeric panache that must be thrilling to view in person. Beaucoup Blue is a versatile, imaginative team that has something to say and say it with an adventurous sense of personality from the bottom of their hearts." —Sing Out!
Opener Trina Hamlin plays a mix of ballads, folk rock, and blues. She has
been on tour with Susan Werner, appeared on Conan O'Brien, and has been
featured at numerous folk festivals. “Trina Hamlin's music smolders sweetly
just before it sets the place on fire.” — WUMB, Boston |
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| Saturday, Jan. 16 • 8 PM |
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Frank Jaklitsch and Friends |
$15 advance / $17 at the door
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Lost Radio Rounders opening |
| www.frankjak.com |
 Folk/Celtic artist Frank Jaklitsch always turns his concerts at Caffè Lena into something more than entertainment. Audiences leave buoyed by the radiant joy Frank brings to his performances. The band is big and the sound is full, the sing-alongs are plentiful, the laughter fills the room, and a few of Frank's favorite causes* receive the evening's proceeds.
Come enjoy the best of traditional and contempory folk, and a smattering of Celtic favorites performed by Frank on guitar, Steve Butler on bodhran, Steve Gray on lead guitar, Tom Lindsay on bass and harmony vocals, Greg Haymes on harmonica, and Michael Eck on mandolin.
Special guest The Lost Radio Rounders will open.
* Proceeds will be divided among the Shaker Vet Hospital's Save-a-Pet fund, the Richard D. Tenenini Foundation, and the Alpha Pregnancy Care Center |
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 Dancing on the edge of folk and pop there's a revolution: emma's revolution. "Bold, profound, moving, hilarious and transformative." The sound of passion in "deftly-turned phrases," songs imbued with hope, warmth, and the "power and drive" to turn tears into laughter, cynicism into action.
emma's revolution is the duo of award-winning, activist musicians, Pat Humphries and Sandy O, who write songs that become traditions.
Their song "If I Give Your Name" won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" is sung around the world and has been called the "anthem of the anti-war movement." "Keep On Moving Forward" opened the NGO Forum at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Bejiing, becoming the unofficial theme of the  Conference.
emma's revolution's latest CD, roots, rock & revolution has been called "Inspiring, gutsy and rockin'!"
Over the last two years Liah Alonso and Kelly Halloran of Left on Red have wowed public audiences with their brand of fun, socially relevant lyrics and rocking improvisational instrumentation. They routinely play in hospitals, nursing homes and for veterans' groups, as well as busking in the NYC subway
system.
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| Wednesday, Jan. 20 • 7 PM |
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Emerging Artist Breakout |
$5
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Mike Gowans
With Tom Van Slyke opening |
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 Fulton County singer-songwriter Mike Gowans has emerged as a crowd favorite at Caffè Lena's Open Mic night. His original songs are infused with blues energy and reveal an independent artist guided more by his own instincts than by imitation of musical heroes. He mixes in some classic cover tunes for a great night of picking and singing. |
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Jackie |
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This is the opening salvo of our year-long 50th anniversary celebration! Tonight Bill Staines, one of the Caffè's most enduringly popular artists, and Jackie Washington, the man who performed on opening night in 1960, join together to honor Caffè Lena's first decade.
Known since the late 60s as Jack Landrón, "Jackie Washington" was a prestigious first booking for Lena and Bill Spencer. One of the top folksingers of Boston and Greenwich Village, he was called "the male Joan Baez." To this day he is an exciting and inventive live performer who pens songs that can heard in such diverse settings as National Public Radio, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, and in various musicals. He's coming all the way from California to be part of this special celebration.
Bill Staines has played the Caffè stage twice a year since 1967. He has warm memories of an early performance with Landrón, and looks forward to another fine evening. During his decades in folk music, Bill's insightful, inspirational songs and funny stories have become a family tradition for many. They've also become a tradition in the music world, having been recorded by Nanci Griffith, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, and many others.
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| Saturday, Jan. 23 • 8 PM |
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Homegrown String Band |
$15 advance / $17 at the door
½ price for kids
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Free Knitting Circle before the show at 7 PM |
| www.homegrownstringband.com |
 Tonight we want you to bring the kids along and show them how much fun can be had without TV, iPods or screens of any sort! The Homegrown String Band is a "100% Natural, Organic" band, homegrown by Georgianne and Rick Jackofsky and their two daughters. Inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century, this genuine family band utilizes harmony singing, guitar, banjo, fiddle, harmonica, jawharp, and percussive dance to put their own stamp on blues, bluegrass, and classic country.
Free Knitting Circle
 All knitters are invited to come early for a knitting circle facilitated by band member Erica Jakofsky, whose original designs have been included in national publications.
A knitting basket will be given away during the concert that includes one of Erica¹s original patterns, enough yarn to complete the project, and a set of handmade pewter buttons crafted by band leader Rick Jackofsky. fiddleknits.com |
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Our favorite part of the show is when mom and daughters face off in an Appalachian flat-foot dancing showdown, with feet kicking high and smacking down hard in a delightfully playful feast of percussion, with fiddle bows flying all the while!
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 Mandolinist Matt Flinner and guitarist Ross Martin cover a wide variety of musical styles—all with the common ground of originality. Bluegrass, jazz and Celtic music are present here, but not necessarily overtly. Call it Americana Music, or New Acoustic, or Chamber Grass, or just call it Great Music; whatever the label, it's guaranteed to be fresh and original, and definitely something you've never quite heard before.
Starting out as a banjo prodigy at bluegrass festivals before he even entered his teens, Matt Flinner later took up the mandolin, won the National Banjo Competition in Winfield, KS in 1990, and won the mandolin award there the following year. He moved to Nashville in 1999 and is now widely considered one of the hottest and most creative mandolin players on the acoustic scene, with several discs out on the Compass Records label.
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 Black Mountain Symphony, including Saratoga bassist Orion Kribs, showcases an eclectic range of influences. From haunting folk-tinged ballads to rocking dance numbers, the five-piece ensemble sprinkles their  live sets with hints of everything from classical music to bits of Motown, blues and jazz. Evocative of such artists as Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Damien Rice, and The Dave Matthews Band, the group brings years of classical training to their rich soundscapes.
Opener Birds in the Woods are winners of the 2008 Boston Music Festival competition. |
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 Acclaimed by CNN, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, singer-guitarist-songwriter Murali Coryell is a rising force in contemporary American music. The son of jazz guitar legend Larry Coryell, who played with Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix and is one of the inventors of jazz-rock fusion, Murali is a natural born entertainer.
 Blessed with a soothing, soulful voice and a guitar style to match, he has toured with B.B. King and been nominated for a Grammy. On stage he mixes original blues songs with covers from blues and soul artists including Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cooke, James Brown and The Temptations, to name a few. Rock, soul, jazz, reggae, Latin, classical and blues, all filter into his passionate, original songs.
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This Concert is Funded in Part by the New York State Council on the Arts
Tonight we present three artists who we believe are paving the way toward a bright future for folk music. The ticket price is underwritten by a grant, enabling us to offer you an amazing bargain for an intimate night of music worthy of the finest stages anywhere.
Our theme tonight is modern blues:
Legendary blues guitarist John Hammond called Danielle Miraglia "Inspirational!" With a strong steady thumb on her old Gibson and a raw, powerful voice, she'll make you feel the heat of the Delta. But while her style pays homage to blues tradition, her classic rock verve, catchy melodies and eclectic lyrics give her original songs a unique twist.
NYC's Bret Mosley grooves the folk and funks the blues. Wrestling deftly with longing, belonging and world-weariness, Bret puts you on the road home to hope and grace. Critics have likened Bret to Chris Whitley, Steve Earle, Van Morrison, and Taj Mahal.
In a style developed entirely outside the usual industry channels Kelleigh McKenzie's songs have the quality of lightening in a bottle. Within months of making her first CD she won the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and the next year won the 2009 Independent Music Award for "Best Americana Song." She's a banjo-thumping, foot-stomping, guitar-plucker with a whimsical voice and surprising grooves. Her tales veer effortlessly from a graceful social consciousness to lusty romps and sinister seductions.
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For more than 100 years The Monday Musical Club of Albany has provided regional classical music artists the opportunity to perform with one another in small ensembles. They visit Caffè Lena at least once a year for a relaxed afternoon of excellent, eclectic classical music.
This afternoon's artists will be classical guitarists William Simcoe and Frederic Hellwitz, and vocalists Rosanne Hargrave and Kathleen Pruzek.
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| Sunday, Jan. 31 • 7 PM |
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Closed |
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Photo:
Graham Parker
© 2009, Joseph Deuel
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Photo:
Peppino D'Agostino
© 2009, Joseph Deuel
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Photo:
Meg Hutchinson
© 2009, Joseph Deuel
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Photo:
Peter Mulvey
© 2009, Joseph Deuel |
Copyright © 1998-2010, Caffè Lena, Inc.
All Rights Reserved |
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