November 11-17

5th Annual TrueSongs: Lyrics of Life
Join your neighbors at Spa Little Theater this Saturday for an extraordinary performance of true stories & new songs celebrating the ways people help each other through life’s challenges. TrueSongs demonstrates how Caffe Lena uses music to support both artistic expression and social connection
Direct Link to Details & Tickets
This year’s organizations clockwise from upper left: Capital District Latinos, Alliance 180, Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation of Northeastern NY, WAIT House, Tri-County Literacy Volunteers, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.

Greetings – A few years ago, the Caffe community decided expand its music beyond the venue’s four walls. Why? Because we all know what music can do for us: enliven, heal, comfort, inspire. We partnered with nonprofits that were serving people who would love to see a concert, but couldn’t come to the Caffe. Pretty soon, Caffe Lena’s nationally-touring headliners began popping up at elder care centers, the soup kitchen, after-school programs, shelters, recovery centers . . . and the list keeps growing–because the music really helps people.

TrueSongs, a night of storytelling and songs, is the annual capstone of this unique outreach program. You’ll hear from six people who have overcome significant life challenges with the support of area nonprofits. After experiencing this year’s show, you will leave with renewed faith that our divides can be bridged. In the words of one of this year’s songwriters, Carolyn Shapiro, “it’s time to reimagine the American Dream to be about collaboration and community rather than rugged individualism.” Please join us!

See you at the show,
Sarah

– WEEK AT A GLANCE –

Monday
7 PM Open Mic Night
Tuesday
7 PM JAZZ AT CAFFÈ LENA WITH THE CHUCK LAMB TRIO & SPECIAL GUEST STANLEY JORDAN SOLD OUT
8 PM “Live From Caffe Lena” on WEXT 97.7 or 106.1 FM
Wednesday
10 – 10:30 AM Folk Club Kids: Stories, Songs & Sing-A-Longs
7 PM SKIDMORE JAZZ STUDENTS FREE
7 PM & 12 AM “Live From Caffè Lena” on Folk Music Notebook
Thursday
1 – 3 PM Weekly Slow Jam with The Adirondack Song Dogs/ Folk, Bluegrass & More!
7 PM CHRISTIE LENÉE W. OPENER DAVID RYAN GREEN LOW TICKET ALERT!
Friday
8 PM DANA COOPER ALBUM RELEASE
Saturday
7 PM TRUESONGS 2024: THE LYRICS OF LIFE at the Spa Little Theater
Sunday
9 AM Dharma Meditation with Pierre Zimmerman
3 – 5 PM THE BEATLE CAFFÈ SOLD OUT
7 – 9 PM SKIDMORE SONGWRITERS FREE

– HIGHLIGHTS –

Watch on Caffe Lena TV

World-renowned, internationally-acclaimed, 4x-Grammy Award nominated guitarist Stanley Jordan will be Lamb’s special guest this month! For decades, Jordan has displayed openness, imagination, versatility and daring on blazing straight-ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works.

In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Experience the great talent being developed in Skidmore’s celebrated music department under the direction of Russell Haight. Students perform an evening of jazz standards and contemporary compositions.

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

“Dave Matthews meets Joni Mitchell and Michael Hedges,” integrating melodic pop lyricism with catchy hooks and percussive, harmonic textures. Guitar World Magazine recently named her among the Best Acoustic Guitarists in the World Right Now. Her lyrics chronicle joy and hope, self-confidence and empowerment, renewal and light.

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

“Dana has a poet’s eye for beauty & detail, a blue’s man’s soul, and a songbird’s gift. He is remarkable.” – Hayes Carll Often heard in company with Lyle Lovett, Shake Russell and other Texans, Cooper also loves hitting the road solo with his folk-rock-country repertoire that’s an immediate crowd-pleaser.

In-Person Tickets

Our 5th Annual TrueSongs pairs six local people who have overcome significant challenges with professional songwriters to share true stories through words and music. Our exciting line-up of songwriters is Ellis Paul, Carolyn Shapiro, Hayley Reardon, Joe Jencks, Mark Erelli, and Judy Kass. Our organizations are TriCounty Literacy Vols, Alzheimer’s Assoc, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Alliance 180, WAIT House and Cap Dist Latinos.
This year’s event will be held at Spa Little Theater.

In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Curated and hosted by Dave Maswick and Joel Brown, this 60th anniversary of The Beatles in American tribute will feature Lori, Kenny and Ellie of the rock band Super 400, bluegrass favorites Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, veteran duo Maswick & Brown, Skidmore standouts Question of the Century, and college phenom Acearah.

In-Person Pre-Registration

Their new songs are sometimes nostalgic, sometimes fun, and always thoughtful. This community concert gives Saratogians a chance to experience the hard work going on in Skidmore’s celebrated music department. Free admission – donations welcome. Caffe Lena’s full menu will be available.