The road to Memphis begins at Caffè Lena!
Some of the Capital Region's finest blues musicians will compete for the opportunity to represent our region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 2027. Presented by the Capital Region Blues Network, an affiliate of The Blues Foundation, this showcase is part of one of the most respected competitions in blues music.
Performing artists will take the stage before a panel of judges, who will evaluate each act on musicianship, vocal and instrumental talent, originality, and stage presence. The winning solo or duo act will earn the honor of representing the Capital Region on the international stage, joining musicians from blues societies across the United States and around the world.
For audiences, it's a rare opportunity to experience an afternoon of outstanding live blues while cheering on local artists as they compete for a chance to perform in the birthplace of the blues.
Mike Herman
Mike Herman is a Modern Pioneer in Acoustic Fingerstyle Blues. Growing up on Long Island, music for Mike included guitar lessons with Toby Walker, and a trip to and through Mississippi, searching out, learning from and playing with old-time Bluesmen such as Jack Owens, Eugene Powell and R.L. Burnside. As well as Brownie McGhee in Oakland California. After earning a Bachelor of Music Degree from SUNY Purchase in 1995 and a move up to the Catskill Mountains, where he still resides, several years were spent playing in the Regional Blues Duo – The Hell Hounds. In 2007, Mike began to perform as Mike Herman, Solo. Since then, Mike has continued teaching, performing, opening for notable artists such as Chris Smither and Recording & releasing five CD’s of his own – most recently North Country Blues Volume I (2025) and Volume II (2026).
Chest’r
Chest’r played his first gig in 1960 at the Now Man of Kent in Hoosick, located on Route 7. The audience consisted of a group of lumberjacks, marking a unique start to his musical career. Over the years, he has performed with numerous bands, including Chester, Downing Street, The Nomads, Nightlife, and Coachman.
After my time with bands, he pursued solo work, performing throughout the southern states and internationally. One of his notable achievements was a concert at ZAK, the largest student club in Gdansk, Poland, where he drew the biggest crowd they had in 1994. He also lived in Copenhagen, performing six nights a week as a solo artist. During this time, he also taught guitar lessons at a local music store before relocating to London, where he continued to teach and play music.
Spendthrift Lover
Spendthrift Lover is a new-ish to the scene blues duo with musical roots spanning from the hollers of Appalachia to the Montreal jazz scene. The duo consists of married couple Brian Axford and Lauren Chiyoko.
Brian plays piano, guitar, mandolin, all like he has 4 hands- and sings too. Lauren is a versatile vocalist that primarily plays guitar and harmonica, but also plays the heck out a tambourine when the occasion arises. Occasionally she will take a turn on the mandolin.
https://www.facebook.com/spendthrift.lover
Rees Shad
Over the course of a prolific 40+ year career, 32 releases and 17 solo albums, Rees Shad has crafted music that is both poignant and profound. He is dedicated to crafting short story songs that cross genre lines to serve the spirit of each tale he weaves and engage his audiences in deep and meaningful ways.
Shad’s latest release Porcelain Angel is being lauded for its “grace and elegance” (Americana UK), “all-knowing tonality” (Americana Highways), and for “pushing the boundaries of musical storytelling” (The Rogovoy Report)
Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Livestream available for $5 – 100% of live stream tickets on CaffeLenaTV benefit the artists. Subscribe for unlimited live streaming, two week access to recent shows, and Caffe Lena's video archive.
Note: Caffe Lena does not permit ticket reselling above face value. Tickets purchased for the purpose of resale may be canceled without notice, and refunds for such purchases will not be granted.
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