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62nd Anniversary Weekend! Free Festival Sunday
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Jack Landron, known at the time as Jackie Washington, was Lena’s headliner on opening night, May 21, 1960. Maxine Abel opened the show. You can still see those bricks every time you sit in the seats at Caffe Lena.
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Greetings – Happy 62nd birthday to Caffe Lena! Some of you may have just come for your first show. Others have memories of this room dating back decades. We had someone here today who was in the audience for Bob Dylan’s first show.  Yesterday, an audience member identified herself as an ER nurse who cared for Lena in Lena’s final days at Ellis Hospital. We just had a man here who was brought by his parents in the 60s. He remembered napping during the shows with his head in Lena’s lap.

And then there’s Neal and Pilar, children in our after-school music program who will never forget the folk songs they’re learning now. And a few folks every night who step into the lobby with eyes full of curiosity, finally seeing the fabled Caffe Lena for the first time. Or Jeffrey Foucault, a first-timer from last weekend, stepping on stage in the footsteps of his friends and heroes Chris Smither and Townes Van Zandt.

And that’s just one weekend. Multiply that by more than 3,000 and you can see how many memories live in these precious old bricks. Sixty-two years of deep listening and courageous truth-telling, laughter and kindness, creativity and intelligence. Good job, folks.

See you at the show,
Sarah
=MID-WEEK SHOWS=

Monday, May 16 / 7 PM – Donation Jar
OPEN MIC NIGHT

Tuesday, May 17 / 8 PM
“Live From Caffe Lena” Radio Show: Liz Longley
Listen on WEXT 97.7 or 106.1 FM

Wednesday, May 18 / 7 PM / $5
BLUEGRASS JAM 
Hosted by Red Spruce  – Beginners & Listeners Welcome!

Wednesday, May 18, 7 PM & 12 AM, Sunday, May 22, 1 PM
“Live From Caffe Lena” Radio Show: TEOA
Listen on Folk Music Notebook Internet Folk Radio
Tuesday, May 17 / Free!
10:30 – 11 AM

Folk Club Kids
In-person & Streamed

Live music, stories & games for
pre-schoolers and their adults.

Made Possible by the New York State Council on the Arts
Tuesday, May 17 / 7 PM / $10
Rochmon Record Club:
Cat Stevens, Tea for the Tillerman
In-person tickets
Watch on Caffe Lena TVThis album brought Cat Stevens to the forefront of popular music. It has some of his best-known songs, including “Where Do The Children Play,” “Wild World,” “Longer Boats,” “Father and Son,” and 7 more. A Rochmon Record Club Listening Party deepens our understanding of classic albums with stories, facts, photos and a close listening to the songs. You’ll feel like you’re hearing the music again for the first time.
[CLICK PHOTO FOR SAMPLE SONG]
Thursday, May 19 / 7 PM / $25
MR. SUN
Grant Gordy, Darol Anger, Joe K. Walsh & Aidan O’Donnell
In-person tickets
Watch on Caffe Lena TV

You will LOVE this super-group featuring renowned fiddler Darol Anger (Turtle Island Quartet, David Grisman, Republic of Strings); mandolin virtuoso Joe K. Walsh (Gibson Brothers); all-around guitar genius Grant Gordy (David Grisman); and the phenomenal Scots bassist Aidan O’Donnell, who has backed harpist Maeve Gilchrist and countless modern Jazz heroes.
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[CLICK PHOTO FOR SAMPLE SONG]
Friday, May 20 / 8 PM / $22
Maya DeVitry Band
Special Guest Alexa Rose
In-person tickets
Watch from home

Do not miss this amazing songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and stellar human being! Founding member of The Stray Birds, De Vitry is on tour in support of Violet Light, her 3rd full-length release. It’s an open-hearted invitation to explore the tensions between love and control, and our drive to belong. Maya on banjo and fiddle with Joel Timmons (guitars), Shelby Means (upright bass), and Dominic Billett (drums) with special guest Alexa Rose opening the show and playing with the band.
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[CLICK PHOTO FOR SAMPLE SONG]
Saturday, May 21 / 5 & 8 PM / $30
JOCELYN & CHRIS
5:00 PM Band By Request  
Tickets / Watch on Caffe Lena TV
8:00 PM  Favorite Ghosts Premiere (Low Ticket Alert)
Tickets / Watch on Caffe Lena TV

With vocal comparisons to Janis Joplin and Grace Slick and guitar work likened to Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour, their performances are a perfect blend of high-energy AAA rock and authentic audience engagement. This Cap Region sibling duo has charted three consecutive radio singles in the Billboard AAA Top 40, taken two records to #1 on the Jambands Top 30 Album Chart, and appeared nationally on NBC’s Today Show.
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Sunday, May 22 / 12- 2:00 PM / Free!

IMPRESSIONS / 368 B’Way:  12:00pm Girl Blue │1:00pm Russel the Leaf

LIBRARY / Putnam St.: 12:00pm Cassandra Kubinski │ 1:10pm Jes Hudak

LIBRARY / Henry St. 12:00pm Dan, James and Oona│1:00pm Karl Bertrand

BEN & JERRY’S: 12:00pm Hot Club of Saratoga │ 1:00pm The Bluebillies

CAFFE COURTYARD: 12:00pm Carolyn Shapiro │ 1:00pm Reese Fulmer

CAFFE UPSTAIRS: 12:00pm North & South Dakotas │ 1:00pm Lost Radio Rounders
Sunday, May 22 / 7 PM / $22
The Remarkable, Irresistible Erie:
Snapshots and Voices
In-person tickets
Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Produced and directed by Andy Spence, founder of Old Songs, Inc. With songs and narration, this original show tells the fascinating story of the people, places, and history of the Erie Canal. The concert features original songs by folk stalwarts along with familiar Erie songs. The cast: George Wilson, fiddle, bass & banjo; Paul Draper, vintage banjo; George Ward, concertina; Annie Rosen, ukulele; Jonny Rosen, guitar; Kate Blain, guitar; Alan Thomson, piano.
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PLAYLIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS:

MAY

JUNE