December 16 - 22 - Caffe Lena

John Hartford & Lena Spencer by Joe Deuel.
We kick off our 65th Anniversary Year with a slideshow & conversation with Caffe Lena’s sound engineer and house photographer, Joe Deuel. Tickets are moving fast for this just-announced special event on JAN 4 so don’t delay! Direct Link to Tickets

Greetings – This is a time of year when many people take extra time to enjoy friends and family, and it shows in the turn out at our concerts. Two of this weekend’s shows are sold out, and one (The Singing Anchors) is about to sell out. If there’s anything you’d like to come to over the next couple weeks, please plan early so you don’t miss out. And thanks to all of you who are filling the Caffe with so much good energy! The staff and musicians sure appreciate you. 🙂

The January 4th slideshow and talk with Joe Deuel happens to fall on the 101st anniversary of Lena’s birth. Joe is the man in the sound booth who makes our shows sound so good. For decades he has been bringing his camera to work, and the result is a treasure trove of photos spanning five decades. I’ll be on stage with him, guiding the conversation and fielding questions. Joe’s memory of the artists he has worked with is as sharp as his wit. I can’t wait to hear his stories about Lena and the myriad performers he has run sound for, from John Hartford and Townes Van Zandt, Dave Van Ronk and Utah Phillips, to Billy Strings and Anais Mitchell. What a perfect start to our 65th anniversary year!

See you at the show,
Sarah

– WEEK AT A GLANCE –

Monday
7 PM Open Mic Night
Tuesday
7 PM ROCHMON RECORD CLUB LISTENING PARTY: 2024 RETROSPECTIVE
8 PM “Live From Caffe Lena” on WEXT 97.7 or 106.1 FM
Wednesday
7 PM Bluegrass Jam hosted by Red Spruce
7 PM & 12 AM “Live From Caffè Lena” on Folk Music Notebook
Thursday
7 PM THE SINGING ANCHORS REUNION HOLIDAY SHOW LOW TICKETS
Friday
8 PM REES SHAD & THE CONVERSATIONS AITH OPENER MATT GRIFFIN
Saturday
8 PM NEFESH MOUNTAIN: THE LOVE & LIGHT TOUR SOLD OUT
Sunday
9 AM Dharma Meditation with Pierre Zimmerman
5 PM “A JOYFUL NOISE!” GOSPEL DINNER LED BY SOULIST GARLAND NELSON SOLD OUT

– HIGHLIGHTS –

In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Rochmon Record Club will converge at Caffè Lena for a Year End Retrospective Listening Party celebrating the lives of way too many musicians who left the planet this year. This special Rochmon is a celebration of beloved musicians and is filled with music. The show features over 16 songs from a wide variety of artists including Kris Kristofferson, Melanie, JD Souther, Greg Kihn, Mary Weiss, John Mayall, Dickey Betts, Quincy Jones and, unfortunately, many others.

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

The Capital Region’s own Singing Anchors are back with a program of seasonal classics that’s perfect for a night of holiday cheer with your friends and family. Since 2009, TV news anchors Jerry Gretzinger, Benita Zahn, and Jessica Layton have charmed audiences by stepping out of the studio and onto the stage. Jessica now anchors for MSNBC and occasionally on NBC’s Early Today Show. Jerry and Benita have retired as co-anchors at WNYT.

Sample Song Rees Shad | Sample Song Matt Griffin | In-Person Tickets | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

“Swinging Americana Done Right” is how this band describes their musical conversation of jazzy Americana. It’s literate, imaginatively played, and grooving. Seasoned guitarist and songwriter Shad is renowned for his ballads with recurring characters and narratives, creating a cohesive story across his albums.

Sample Song | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Dynamic husband and wife Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff have created a world and sound all their own, blurring the lines between their Jewish heritage, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Blues with a masterful hand as songwriters, instrumentalists and composers alike. Backed by a full band, their shows are passionate, joyful, Jewish and inclusive.

Sample Song | Watch on Caffe Lena TV

Garland’s gospel series is back! Lift your spirit with a late afternoon of joyful noise directed by Soulist Garland Nelson, leading Lena’s Inspirational Voices gospel choir. Songs range from traditional gospel and contemporary church music to soulful pop classics. A hearty Caribbean meal catered by Vashti’s Kitchen Delights is included in your ticket and will be served to your table.

The Joyful Noise! series is made possible by the generous support of
Dottie Pepper and David Normoyle.