May 6 - 12 - Caffe Lena

One look at that smile and you know you’re in good hands. Peter Rowan is a Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee who is playing the Caffe this Sunday for the first time in 33 years. Click photo for sample (how many players can you name??).

Greetings – Wait, another award?! We’ve been having an amazing few weeks here at folk headquarters. First, we won Presenter of the Year at the Capital Region Eddie Awards for the 2nd year in a row. Then, a couple days ago we were added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry (photo below). Then, chuckle if you will, but we just found out that Caffe Lena is now officially in the Top 25 tourist attractions in the greater Capital Region. As you know, we are very focused on our local community, so we’re thrilled to find that out of town visitors are looking to us for a taste of what the locals love.

No wonder the world is paying attention–look at this week’s line-up! Peter Rowan is one of those bucket list shows. What a career he’s had–from his years of playing with Jerry Garcia and Bill Monroe to his 2022 & 2023 Grammy nominations. On the other end of the career spectrum there’s Bandits on the Run. They may be brand new to our audience, but the fact that there’s only one ticket left proves that you folks love to explore new music. Every night is going to be special this week. (Well, to be honest, that’s true every week.)

See you at the show,
Sarah

Caffe Lena is the newest addition to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Randy Simmons, Commissioner of NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation says: “Businesses like yours are the backbone of our communities and have helped to shape our state’s cultural identity.”

From left to right: Caffe Director Sarah Craig, Community Preservation Bureau Director Kathy Howe, 113th District Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner who championed our inclusion, and Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford.

– WEEK AT A GLANCE –

Monday
7 PM Open Mic Night
Tuesday
7 PM Storytelling Open Mic featuring Miki Conn
8 PM “Live From Caffe Lena” on WEXT 97.7 or 106.1 FM
Wednesday
10 AM Folk Club Kids! Free Preschool Music Program
7 PM & 12 AM “Live From Caffè Lena” on Folk Music Notebook
Thursday
1-3 PM Weekly Slow Jam: Folk, Bluegrass and More!
7 PM Robin and Linda Williams  LOW TICKET ALERT
Friday
8 PM Gil Gutiérrez Trio
Saturday
8 PM Momentum Series: Bandits On the Run  1 SEAT LEFT!
Sunday
9 AM Dharma Meditation with Pierre Zimmerman
7 PM Peter Rowan   LOW TICKET ALERT

– HIGHLIGHTS –

More Info

Conn’s African and Native American roots inspire her art, activism and spirituality. Now retired from directing Schenectady’s Hamilton Hill Arts Center, she tells stories to children and adults and teaches team building, creativity, writing and African spirituality.

Sample Song | In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

“…Among contemporary country performers, Robin and Linda Williams shine like a diamond amid rhinestones …” – The Boston Globe “They don’t play at being country – they are country.” – No Depression Robin and Linda bring us the beautiful tunes and homespun wisdom and humor that made them regulars on Prairie Home Companion for 41 years.

Sample T une | In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Caffe Lena audiences met Gutiérrez through his unforgettable 2019 and 2022 appearances with Doc Severinsen. Mexican guitar virtuoso Gutiérrez is joined by Dave Rodriguez (Grammy & Emmy-nominated upright bassist)and Bob Stern (violinist for Laura Brannigan, Jerry Miller and others) for an evening of vibrant Latin influenced jazz and classical music.

Sample Song | In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Known for vivacious performances, soaring harmonies, unexpected theatrical antics and toy instruments, this crime ring disguised as an indie-folk trio (or is it the other way around?) met busking in the subways of NYC. They’ve now received accolades from NPR Music’s “All Songs Considered,” American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, Paste and Billboard.

Sample Song | In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

With a career spanning over 5 decades, this towering singer-songwriter is a 2022 & 2023 Grammy nominee and member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. From his early years playing with Bill Monroe, to his time in Old & In the Way (Rowan, David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and John Kahn) and his breakout as a solo musician and bandleader, Rowan has kept it fresh, energetic and rooted in tradition.