What’s Happening at Lena’s this Week?

Greetings – This past weekend we welcomed Alash back our stage. We have a fifteen year relationship with this throat-singing band from Tuva, Russia. We’ve followed the birth of numerous children, some of whom are now in their teens. We’ve been excited to hear their English vocabulary grow so we can converse in greater depth. The hurdles they climbed over to get to us this year were jaw-dropping. Securing a travel visa was nearly impossible. It involved a two-week trip to Mongolia, which was almost entirely locked down because of Covid. Then they had to get to Croatia just to get a vaccination that would pass muster for entry in the USA. And then, just as they were leaving Russia, their country went to war, making it all the more difficult and heart-wrenching to leave their families. But making music is both a trade and a calling, and so much had been invested in this tour. Their performance was as beautiful as ever, and they left the Caffe with some generous donations to help offset the many extra expenses of this tour. Once again, we were reminded how music creates friendships across borders, and that is just one of the many reasons we need it in our lives.

See you at the show,
Sarah