Caffè Lena

Folk Club Kids
2026-07-22 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Caffè Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
Folk Instructional Workshop

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Folk Club Kids: Stories, Songs, and Sing-a-longs Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. https://www.caffelena.org/folk-club-kids/ Join Dan Berggren, Arielle Woodul and Connor Armbruster for Folk Club Kids: a free weekly interactive concert series for preschoolers and their caregivers. Children are treated to 30 minutes of live music in a welcoming, inclusive environment. Inspire a love of music, community, and togetherness each week, learn, play, make friends and have fun! This program is made possible by Andy and Bill Spence.

Price

General
$95.00

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School of Music Slow Jam
2026-07-23 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-07-30 13:00 - 15:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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All are Welcome!
WE LOVE TO MEET NEW PICKERS,
AND WE LOVE PUTTING ON A GOOD SHOW FOR LISTENERS!

This weekly program is made possible by the generous support of PHLY Foundation!

THERE ARE NO PRE-SHOW RESERVATIONS FOR THE JAMS!

SUGGESTED DONATION AT THE DOOR. $5.00 per person

Our jams are all about sharing songs, making new friends, and enjoying a relaxing and casual evening of irresistible string band music.

ALL are welcome to join the circle for an afternoon or evening playing and listening to classic grass, new grass and folk favorites. We sometimes refer to our genre as eclectic acoustic.

Red Spruce and Adirondack Song Dogs will kick off each session with a few tunes then open the floor for musicians to lead their favorite bluegrass tunes and folk music, backed up by the other pickers in the gathering. Simple tunes are always popular! So sharpen up your axe, come prepared with your song, and let us hear some good old fast, high and lonesome, some slow and low, or a good old favorite. All are welcome!

What is a Slow Jam?

It is a group of string instrument players and singers who get together to have fun making music. The “slow” modifier indicates that it is targeted to the following musicians: people who have been playing solo and want to get used to playing in a group setting: people who have just learned how to play and want to play with others; people who have instruments that have been gathering dust for a “few” years; experienced players who are trying out playing instruments other than their primary instrument; people who are comfortable playing their instrument but want to become more comfortable singing/leading a song.. The tunes are played at 80 to 110 BPM and usually in basic keys such a G, A, D, C major, but it always sounds great to play in some minor keys such as “a”, “e”, and “g”. We will try to avoid “jam busters.” It is our hope that after this experience you will feel more comfortable playing at the many open jams and open mics that can be found in our area.

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Price

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$525.00

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Cassandra Kubinski: An Exclusive Album Preview
2026-07-23 19:00 - 21:00
Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

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Every song begins the same way: with one person, an idea, and the courage to follow it wherever it leads.

Long before her music reached audiences around the world, Cassandra Kubinski was writing deeply personal songs at the piano, songs about love, family, ambition, loss, hope, and the complicated beauty of being human. Those songs eventually found an unexpected second life on the hit television series Dance Moms, introducing her music to millions of listeners.

Now, Cassandra returns to where those songs first belonged.

Join Cassandra for an intimate evening celebrating the upcoming release of Dance Moms Acoustic & Lyrical Solos, a collection that reimagines nine of the songs she originally wrote for the series as they were first conceived: honest, piano-driven, and centered on the storytelling. Produced by Jim Mastrianni (who also produced The Saratoga Sessions EP and her duet "Burn It Down" with Sawyer Fredericks), the album showcases the songs in beautifully stripped-down arrangements.

Joined by cello and percussion, Cassandra creates an evening that feels more like an invitation into the songwriting process than a traditional concert. Along with these newly reimagined recordings, she'll share other original songs from her catalog, the stories behind them, and the winding path that has taken her music from the piano bench to listeners around the world.

Whether you're discovering Cassandra's music for the first time or have followed her songwriting for years, this is a rare opportunity to experience her work in the intimate setting where songs are heard the way they were meant to be heard: up close, acoustic, and led by the voice of the songwriter herself.

SAMPLE SONG

As a special bonus, all ticket holders will receive an advance streaming link to hear the entire album Dance Moms Acoustic and Lyrical Solos before its official release.

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.

Price

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$120.00

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Songwriting Club

Singer Songwriter Workshop

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Aug 8 • 10 AM

Griffin House
2026-07-24 20:00 - 22:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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A Nashville-based musician with a Midwestern upbringing, Griffin House bought his first guitar for $100 from a friend, then turned down a golf scholarship to Ohio University and instead went to Miami University where he taught himself how to play guitar and write songs.

Inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Woody Guthrie, and the Mermaid Avenue albums by Wilco and Billy Bragg, House embraced the craft of songwriting and issued several albums as an independent artist. His mix of sentimental melodies, ambient guitars, and sparse arrangements attracted attention from Nettwerk, a Vancouver-based record label, and House soon partnered with the label’s American branch to issue Lost & Found in 2004. Several self-released albums followed, and House signed with RCA before issuing Flying Upside Down, a folk-rock album recorded with members of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. (AllMusic.) The Tides is a five song EP recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Jacquire King and was released on Aug 29, 2023. His latest release "Surrender to Win” was released this past February.

The music documentary “Rising Star,” released on Amazon Prime in 2019, chronicles Griffin House’s journey through the music business, as he attempts to balance the challenges of life as a traveling modern-day troubadour with marriage, fatherhood and sobriety.

House’s music has been featured on prime time television shows such "One Tree Hill", "Rescue Me", "Party of Five", and "Everwood", and reviewed in magazines such as Paste, No Depression and Rolling Stone.

House spikes his pop/rock songwriting with a hearty dose of rootsy, atmospheric Americana. He has shared the stage with artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Patti Scialfa, Josh Ritter, John Mellencamp, Mat Kearney, and The Cranberries.

SAMPLE SONG

American Songwriter writes, “If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.”

​​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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Folk Heritage Series: Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert
2026-07-25 20:00 - 22:00
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert first met, fittingly, at San Francisco’s celebrated Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, which led to their co-writing songs for Kane’s solo album Unguarded Moments. They joined forces again for Gellert’s Workin’s Too Hard, which they also co-produced. Then in 2018, they released their first duo album, The Ledges, and followed up quickly with When the Sun Goes Down in 2019. In 2022, this “unlikely musical couple” released The Flowers That Bloom in Spring, which found them digging deeper into their exploration of minimalist writing and recording.Their fourth album, entitled Volume 4. Like all of their other duo albums, they recorded it themselves, live at home and even mixed it there. Kieran’s son Lucas played on a few tracks and Kieran did the painting on the cover. Rayna’s brother Jonah did the package design.

Kieran Kane’s seminal work in The O’Kanes and Kane Welch Kaplin, as well as co-founding the independent label Dead Reckoning Records, laid the foundation for the contemporary world of Americana music. A successful solo artist, collaborator, and songwriter (with songs recorded by Alan Jackson, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and many more), Kieran is a musician’s musician: his playing is always understated, always groove-oriented, and always serving the song.

Rayna Gellert is a preternaturally gifted songwriter. She’s seen farther into the old songs than most. Growing up in a musical family, she turned to Appalachian old-time music at a young age, becoming a prodigious fiddler and leading a new revival of American stringband music through her work with the acclaimed roots band Uncle Earl. An in-demand collaborator, she has toured and recorded with artists such as Scott Miller, Abigail Washburn, Toubab Krewe, and Robyn Hitchcock. Fans of either artist will recognize the musical kindred-spiritedness in their restrained and roots-oriented approach to both songs and arrangements.

Folk Alley describes them this way: “…together the two have found an interesting common ground that’s one part Woody Guthrie-esque ruminations on the modern world and one part transcendent stringband roots … New songs, old songs, fiddle tunes, it’s all tossed together here in an overarching quest to find an authentic expression from two traditional masters brought together.”

One fan proclaims: “Mind numbingly good. That harmony floored me from the start!”

SAMPLE SONG

​The Folk Heritage Series ​is Made possible by the ​generosity of the Charlie Pickett & Kathleen Rehl Endowment Fund​.

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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Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play featuring Joel Brown and Peter Madcat Ruth
2026-07-26 19:00 - 21:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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“It all fits together because of the talent and taste of the musicians, who groove no matter what they’re doing—and it’s tremendous fun, to boot.” — All About Jazz

Chris Brubeck's Triple Play is the name given to three outstanding and versatile musicians, Peter Madcat Ruth (on harmonica, guitar, jaw harp, percussion & vocals), Joel Brown, (folk and classical acoustic guitar and vocals) and Chris Brubeck (electric bass, bass trombone, piano & vocals).

With a rich musical history spanning decades, these three have deep roots in American music. Chris Brubeck and Madcat Ruth began playing together in the late 1960s,first as young rock musicians in the group “New Heavenly Blue” (with albums on RCA and Atlantic Records), “Sky King”(on Columbia), and then as jazz musicians touring the world with Dave Brubeck.

Chris went on to form the group Crofut & Brubeck with the uniquely talented banjo player Bill Crofut and also featured Joel on guitar. A highly unusual and critically acclaimed CD, “Across Your Dreams” (Telarc) featuring famous mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade singing songs written by Chris, Dave & Iola Brubeck.

Their next project was the recording of the acclaimed “Bach to Brubeck” (Koch International Classics) at Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Sadly, Bill Crofut passed away in 1999, and Madcat joined Chris and Joel to form the group Triple Play. The trio blends folk, blues, jazz, and classical influences into performances that feel both deeply rooted and refreshingly spontaneous.

Expect dazzling musicianship, harmonica, guitar, bass, trombone, piano, percussion, and vocals, woven together with warmth, humor, and a genuine love of the music. Their repertoire spans original compositions, inventive arrangements, and the kind of genre-defying interplay that keeps audiences leaning in.

Critics have praised their recordings for their “top-notch musicianship, potent originals, and a touch of humor,” while live audiences know them for something even more powerful: the feeling of three musicians completely in sync, creating music that is as joyful as it is masterful.

SAMPLE SONG

From concert halls to festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival, Triple Play continues to delight audiences across the country. Theirs is a sound that celebrates the full range of American musical tradition.

Stream this show live at CaffeLenaTV. 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.

﻿

Price

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Open Mic
2026-07-27 19:00 - 21:00
Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

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OPEN MIC NIGHT

DOORS 6:00PM // SIGN UP 6:30PM // SHOW STARTS 7:00PM

Play your song on the Caffe’s famous stage! During the past three decades, Lena’s open mic has been recognized with “Best Of” awards from Metroland Magazine, The Alt Weekly, The Saratogian Reader’s Poll and Saratoga’s Fab Five. Just like at our weekend shows, all attention is focused on the stage.

OUR HOSTS

First Monday – Rick Bolton

Second Monday – Carolyn Shapiro

Third Monday – Ray Pashoukos

Fourth Monday – Kate Blain

HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT:

Every Monday. All ages, all styles. Originals encouraged but not required.

Please leave a $3-$5 donation for our non-profit organization if you’re able to.

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Sign-up is 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM / Show at 7:00 / 2 songs or 10 minutes /

Sign up is first come first serve

You are welcome to use our Yamaha studio upright acoustic piano or acoustic Martin guitar. We can play your MP3 backing track through our sound system. You are welcome to bring amps and drums BUT set up and break down is part of your 10 minutes.

Coffee & Cookies are available for purchase in the Lobby. No alcohol! We like to keep our Monday nights family friendly.

Play Nice! We foster a diverse community that has a great time making art and helping one another get better. Excessive profanity, explicit sexual themes, and “humor” that unkindly targets a specific group undermines this goal. It is up to the discretion of the host to enforce the house standards.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions you can give us a call at 518-583-0022 or email our Monday House Manager: artur@caffelena.org

﻿

Price

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$120.00

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Poetry Open Mic Featuring Amie Zimmerman
2026-07-28 19:00 - 21:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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Amie Zimmerman is from Portland, Oregon. Her work has been published in Annulet, Denver Quarterly, Protean, and Lana Turner, among others. She is author of four chapbooks, including 31 Days/The Self (Ursus Americanus, 2021) and a debut full length collection, False Spring (Roof Books, 2026). Alongside Hajar Hussaini and Matthew Klane, Amie co-curates poetry reading series Salon Salvage in Troy, NY.

Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Live stream 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.

﻿

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Folk Club Kids
2026-07-29 10:30 - 11:00
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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Folk Club Kids: Stories, Songs, and Sing-a-longs

Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

https://www.caffelena.org/folk-club-kids/

Join Dan Berggren, Arielle Woodul and Connor Armbruster for Folk Club Kids: a free weekly interactive concert series for preschoolers and their caregivers. Children are treated to 30 minutes of live music in a welcoming, inclusive environment. Inspire a love of music, community, and togetherness each week, learn, play, make friends and have fun!

This program is made possible by Andy and Bill Spence.

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Shannon Tehya Album Release
2026-07-30 19:00 - 21:00
Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

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With a flare for chaotic creativity, Shannon Tehya (Shan-nin Tay-yuh) is a feminist pop princess based in New York’s Capital Region. Her dynamic five-piece pop band is known for their joyful and uplifting music, an emphasis on radical kindness, and sustainable, self-made, themed merchandise. The band (featuring Dane Jennings, Hunter Frost, Peter Roderick, and Rachel Costello) seamlessly blends pop, funk, jazz, and R'n'B, creating a sound that resonates with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Hot on the tails of winning the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Award for the 2026 Pop Artist of the Year, Shannon Tehya is excited to celebrate the release of her first self-produced album, “The Space in Between” with a debut headlining show at Caffè Lena. The project focuses on the highs and lows of our own humanity and emphasizes the struggles that come with navigating the world as a young adult. It contrasts her debut pop album, "Tangled String”, which centered on relationship struggles. Shannon and the band plan to dive deeper than ever in this performance, touching hearts and lifting spirits. The audience can expect them to weave intricate harmonies with delicate musical arrangements in Caffè Lena’s historic space.

SAMPLE SONG

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.

﻿

Price

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Captain Fun Lunchtime Listening Hour
2026-07-31 12:00 - 13:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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Bring your lunch & listen to a playlist curated by a Caffe Lena Community member. For the July edition of the Captain Fun Lunchtime Listening Hour, our playlist curator will be our awesome Event Operations Manager, Brittany Nassar! The D.J. spinning those records will be the Rochmon himself – Chuck “Rochmon” Vosganian.

All are welcome to gather at Lena’s from Noon to 1 PM on the last Friday of each month to enjoy musical memories and new discoveries. The playlist is selected by a different community member each month from the Captain Fun Listening Library of vinyl records in Lena’s lobby. Bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and tea are provided.

The Captain Fun Listening Library occupying the north wall in the Caffè Lena lobby consists of 1,516 vinyl albums and several hundred CDs selected from Al “Captain Fun” McKenney’s expertly curated collection. This treasure trove of folk, blues and jazz was left us in 2015 and we share it through our monthly listening hour, as Al wished.

Enjoy the memories these records bring back, and dig deep into American roots music.

If you want to create a playlist and host a session, please contact Laura Sterling or let us know when you are next at Lena’s!

﻿

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Rory Block
2026-07-31 20:00 - 22:00
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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For decades, Rory Block has lived and breathed music. Very early on, she dug her heels deep into the blues tradition and has since been recognized as one of the finest acoustic blues guitarists of the modern era. With a style similar to that of Robert Johnson’s Delta blues, she has undoubtedly become a dominant figure in the world of slide guitar, "playing the blues the way it was meant to be played." (Guitar Girl Magazine)

Seminal Blues guitarist Robert Johnson’s grandson Greg Johnson says, “When I hear Rory Block’s music, it’s as if my grandfather is here all over again.” Rolling Stone credited her with recording “some of the most singular and affecting Country Blues anyone, man or woman, black or white, old or young, has cut in recent years.”

In a career that has thus far produced 36 albums, 10 Blues Music Awards, and numerous world tours, Block’s fabled odyssey finds her at the absolute height of her talents, and at the top of the touring world, while at the same time living life as a music producer, author and ordained minister “Preaching the Blues.” You might say Block is a darling of the press with testaments such as: “If you like music steeped in tradition and genuine feeling, this is your woman” (People Magazine), “Her playing is perfect, her singing otherworldly as she wrestles with ghosts, shadows and legends.” (The New York Times), and our own Capital District’s Times Union raves, “One of America’s foremost Country Blues torchbearers, she’s a breathtaking slash-’n’-burn guitarist and a supremely soulful vocalist.” Multi Grammy-winning artist and fan, Bonnie Raitt, adds, “Rory Block has been an inspiration to me since we started out years ago. Her guitar playing, singing and songwriting are some of the most soulful in traditional and modern blues.” Or take it from Cash Box Magazine, who pegged Block as “Female sensitivity sheathed in steel.. pure thunder. She’s spellbinding!”

SAMPLE SONG

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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Little Folks Series: Jamcrackers
2026-08-01 15:00 - 16:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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Seasoned solo performers Peggy Lynn, Dan Duggan and Dan Berggren (also one-third of Caffè Lena’s weekly “Folk Club Kids,”) had combined talents to create a dynamic trio named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams. They worked hard to find solutions, to get things rolling again, and it was a job that couldn't be done alone. Berggren, Lynn and Duggan felt the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians brought a rare blend of humor, history and musical spirit to their performances.

Dan Duggan recently passed away and Dan Berggren and Peggy Lynn are continuing Jamcrackers to honor the life of Dan Duggan.

“Although the Jamcrackers … will win you over with their front porch style picking and charm, there’s much more to be appreciated from their music.” (Sing Out!)

Helpful for parents

Little Folks shows are designed for young children and their caregivers, with a relaxed, joyful atmosphere where wiggles, dancing, and singing are always welcome.

Admission is FREE, we just ask you to please register for tickets so we know how many people to expect!

﻿The Little Folks Series is made possible by the generous support of Kevin & Claudia Bright.

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Jamcrackers
2026-08-01 20:00 - 22:00
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Seasoned solo performers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan had combined their talents to create a dynamic trio named in honor of the Adirondack river drivers who broke up log jams. They worked hard to find solutions, to get things rolling again, and it was a job that couldn’t be done alone. Dan, Peggy, and Dan felt the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians brought a rare blend of humor, history, and musical spirit to their performances.

The musical fun that Jamcrackers had on stage was genuine and contagious. Their diverse blend of folk and blues, ballads, gospel, and dance tunes sparked a rare chemistry and a guaranteed good time. Dan Duggan recently passed away and Dan Berggren and Peggy Lynn are continuing Jamcrackers to honor the life of Dan Duggan.

Award-winning educator and songwriter Dan Berggren has deep roots in the Adirondacks. His music reflects the spirit and the hardworking people of that region. He has traveled around the world in performances from Central Africa to Transylvania.

Author and environmental activist Bill McKibben says: “Dan is a throwback to the old role of the folk singer … he’s articulating things that need to be said right now.”

Peggy Lynn writes and performs songs about women and the natural beauty of the North Country and her bluesy alto melts every audience. With Sandra Weber, she co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women of the Adirondacks. In 2005, both Peggy and Dan Berggren received the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Education Award.

“If you’re of the opinion that songs should not just sound good, they should do good, then you’ll love this harmonizing do-right group . . . They sing of nature, strong women, healthy communities, and peace, backing their rich vocal blend with world-class instrumentation.” – Sarah Craig, Caffe Lena

“These Adirondack folk artists have played plenty separately, earning their pedigree by releasing 30-plus albums. … When together, they bring fresh arrangements and brilliant harmonies to traditional and original songs.” – Schenectady Gazette

SAMPLE SONG

​​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.

﻿

Price

General
$120.00

More Information

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Songwriting Club

Singer Songwriter Workshop

class

Aug 8 • 10 AM

An Intimate Evening with Bettye LaVette
2026-08-02 19:00 - 21:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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The Songs, The Stories, The Great Lady Of Soul

An intimate evening with Bettye LaVette, accompanied by Etienne Stadwijk on keyboards.

Bettye LaVette was hailed by the New York Times as “one of the great soul interpreters of her generation”. She is a song stylist. Her gift is being able to take a song from any genre and making it completely her own. To quote the late, great George Jones, "Bettye is truly a 'singer's singer'."

These intimate shows feature Bettye performing songs and telling stories from throughout her 64 year career. Hearing Bettye in this setting, stripped down to just her voice and keyboards, is a very captivating experience.

Her career began in 1962, at 16 years old, in Detroit, Michigan. Her first single, My Man-He's A Lovin' Man, was on Atlantic Records. Throughout the 60s and 70s, she recorded for several major labels, but was never able to "break through". She also appeared in the Broadway Musical "Bubbling Brown Sugar" alongside Honi Coles and Cab Calloway.

Since her resurgence in 2000, she has received the R&B Foundation's Pioneer Award, won several Blues Music Awards, was inducted into both The Blues Hall Of Fame and The R&B Hall Of Fame, received the Legacy Award from the Americana Music Association, and has received 7 Grammy Nominations.

According to Steve Jordan, who produced her last three albums: “When Bettye gets a hold of a song, it becomes her song. It’s like she wrote it. Bettye LaVette is like a combination of Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis."

Now, at 80 years old and in her 64th year in show business, she is one of very few of her peers who were recording during the birth of soul music in the 1960s and is still performing and creating vital recordings today. She is a shining example of what perseverance and determination can bring.

SAMPLE SONG

At Caffè Lena, audiences will experience a true American original whose artistry has only deepened with time. This is not just a concert, it's an evening with one of the last great soul singers of her era, an artist whose music continues to inspire audiences around the world.

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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2026-08-03 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-05 09:30 - 15:30
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

Share:

Music is a gift best shared with friends! Here is an exciting opportunity for youth 12-17 (or by instructor permission) to learn music in a dynamic group setting. This camp is for students who already have some experience singing songs and playing string instruments (familiar with the keys of D, G, and C).

Students enrolled in the camp will participate in a special open discussion with Janis Ian on August 6, offering young songwriters a rare opportunity to hear firsthand about artistic life, creative discipline, and building a career with integrity.

In Troubadours in Training camp we will explore:

-How to find and build a repertoire of songs and tunes

-Expanding vocabulary on one's instrument

-Group and harmony singing

-Vocal technique

-Developing a sense of rhythm and groove

-Playing on stage and performance practice

-Songwriting and arranging

This summer camp is a Monday through Friday day camp meeting 9:30am-3:30pm. In this music intensive week we will learn so much after five days together! At the end of the final day there will be a recital/sharing session for family and friends.

Scholarships are available as well as instrument loans.

#youthclass

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Aug 7 • 9:30 AM

Open Mic
2026-08-03 19:00 - 21:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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OPEN MIC NIGHT

DOORS 6:00PM // SIGN UP 6:30PM // SHOW STARTS 7:00PM

Play your song on the Caffe’s famous stage! During the past three decades, Lena’s open mic has been recognized with “Best Of” awards from Metroland Magazine, The Alt Weekly, The Saratogian Reader’s Poll and Saratoga’s Fab Five. Just like at our weekend shows, all attention is focused on the stage.

OUR HOSTS

First Monday – Rick Bolton

Second Monday – Carolyn Shapiro

Third Monday – Ray Pashoukos

Fourth Monday – Kate Blain

HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT:

Every Monday. All ages, all styles. Originals encouraged but not required.

Please leave a $3-$5 donation for our non-profit organization if you’re able to.

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Sign-up is 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM / Show at 7:00 / 2 songs or 10 minutes /

Sign up is first come first serve

You are welcome to use our Yamaha studio upright acoustic piano or acoustic Martin guitar. We can play your MP3 backing track through our sound system. You are welcome to bring amps and drums BUT set up and break down is part of your 10 minutes.

Coffee & Cookies are available for purchase in the Lobby. No alcohol! We like to keep our Monday nights family friendly.

Play Nice! We foster a diverse community that has a great time making art and helping one another get better. Excessive profanity, explicit sexual themes, and “humor” that unkindly targets a specific group undermines this goal. It is up to the discretion of the host to enforce the house standards.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions you can give us a call at 518-583-0022 or email our Monday House Manager: artur@caffelena.org

﻿

Price

General
$525.00

More Information

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Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

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class

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Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne
2026-08-04 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-06 09:30 - 15:30
Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

Share:

Music is a gift best shared with friends! Here is an exciting opportunity for youth 12-17 (or by instructor permission) to learn music in a dynamic group setting. This camp is for students who already have some experience singing songs and playing string instruments (familiar with the keys of D, G, and C).

Students enrolled in the camp will participate in a special open discussion with Janis Ian on August 6, offering young songwriters a rare opportunity to hear firsthand about artistic life, creative discipline, and building a career with integrity.

In Troubadours in Training camp we will explore:

-How to find and build a repertoire of songs and tunes

-Expanding vocabulary on one's instrument

-Group and harmony singing

-Vocal technique

-Developing a sense of rhythm and groove

-Playing on stage and performance practice

-Songwriting and arranging

This summer camp is a Monday through Friday day camp meeting 9:30am-3:30pm. In this music intensive week we will learn so much after five days together! At the end of the final day there will be a recital/sharing session for family and friends.

Scholarships are available as well as instrument loans.

#youthclass

Price

General
$120.00

More Information

Similar Events

View All

Caffè Lena

Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

class

Aug 6 • 9:30 AM

Caffè Lena

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Aug 8 • 10 AM

Storytelling Open Mic Featuring Barbara Chepaitis
2026-08-04 19:00 - 21:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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Barbara Chepaitis. Off Leash: The care and feeding of our wild souls.

“There are many bridges that connect us with the sizzling and soothing energy of the nonhuman beings all around us. Some of us choose to cross those bridges.”

Barbara Chepaitis is the author of a dozen novels and two books of nonfiction, a storyteller from way back when, and an educator, teaching college students how to use stories to tell the truth. She's a frequent guest on WAMC's Vox Pop, The Writer's Forum, and a guest of the land up in the hills outside of Altamont.

﻿Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Live stream 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.

﻿

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Hot Club of Cowtown
2026-08-05 19:00 - 21:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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For over 25 years, Hot Club of Cowtown has wowed audiences around the world with their weaving together of a combination of seemingly disparate styles to its own magical effect. They are known for their virtuosity, irresistible rhythms, and joyful live shows. Called "a pretty much perfect country trio at the very top of their game" — The Belfast Telegraph, this Texas-based band weaves together the spirit of Django Reinhardt’s hot jazz with the soul of Bob Wills’ Western swing, creating a musical experience that’s timeless, exhilarating, and impossible not to dance to.

Lauded for their, "down-home melodies and exuberant improvisation" — The Times, London, Hot Club has toured with legends like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and the Mavericks, and graced stages from the Grand Ole Opry to the Glastonbury Festival. Their shows are a celebration of American roots music at its most vibrant—steeped in tradition yet always fresh and full of life.

Whether you love swing, folk, country, or jazz, Hot Club of Cowtown promises a night of dazzling musicianship and pure joy.

SAMPLE SONG

"Perhaps the first thing one notices when listening to the Hot Club of Cowtown is its lack of irony, self-consciousness and forced hipness…Stylistically, the band steps out from the shadow of its influences to become more than a faithful retro band… conscious always that above all else, the music is for dancing and an old-fashioned good time." —Neil Strauss, The New York Times

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.

Price

General
$525.00

More Information

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School of Music Slow Jam
2026-08-06 13:00 - 15:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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All are Welcome!
WE LOVE TO MEET NEW PICKERS,
AND WE LOVE PUTTING ON A GOOD SHOW FOR LISTENERS!

This weekly program is made possible by the generous support of PHLY Foundation!

THERE ARE NO PRE-SHOW RESERVATIONS FOR THE JAMS!

SUGGESTED DONATION AT THE DOOR. $5.00 per person

Our jams are all about sharing songs, making new friends, and enjoying a relaxing and casual evening of irresistible string band music.

ALL are welcome to join the circle for an afternoon or evening playing and listening to classic grass, new grass and folk favorites. We sometimes refer to our genre as eclectic acoustic.

Red Spruce and Adirondack Song Dogs will kick off each session with a few tunes then open the floor for musicians to lead their favorite bluegrass tunes and folk music, backed up by the other pickers in the gathering. Simple tunes are always popular! So sharpen up your axe, come prepared with your song, and let us hear some good old fast, high and lonesome, some slow and low, or a good old favorite. All are welcome!

What is a Slow Jam?

It is a group of string instrument players and singers who get together to have fun making music. The “slow” modifier indicates that it is targeted to the following musicians: people who have been playing solo and want to get used to playing in a group setting: people who have just learned how to play and want to play with others; people who have instruments that have been gathering dust for a “few” years; experienced players who are trying out playing instruments other than their primary instrument; people who are comfortable playing their instrument but want to become more comfortable singing/leading a song.. The tunes are played at 80 to 110 BPM and usually in basic keys such a G, A, D, C major, but it always sounds great to play in some minor keys such as “a”, “e”, and “g”. We will try to avoid “jam busters.” It is our hope that after this experience you will feel more comfortable playing at the many open jams and open mics that can be found in our area.

﻿

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The Nields
2026-08-06 19:00 - 21:00
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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The Nields have been lighting up the indie circuit since 1991, originally traveling the continent as a five-piece band. Today, sisters Nerissa Nields and Katryna Nields perform as a duo often compared to Indigo Girls and The Roches. The Chicago Tribune reports, “As the work of the Everly Brothers or the McGarrigle Sisters has amply demonstrated, there are few sounds as sublime as close harmonies rendered by siblings… their inimitable vocal blend is a disarming mix of clean folk harmonies and clenched Generation-X angst.”

The Nields have been lauded for their gorgeous, lilting harmonies, their thoughtful songwriting, and the warmth and humor they bring to every performance. “A masterful mix of modern folk with an alternative edge” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), while The Austin Chronicle praises their “beautifully sweet vocal harmonies… infectious stuff.”

Their newest release, Circle of Days, their twenty-first album, finds the sisters as creative and reflective as ever. Inspired by daily walks during the pandemic and the quiet rhythm of the seasons, the album unfolds as a musical calendar with each song rooted in a particular moment in the year, capturing the emotional landscape that comes with it.

From the introspective stillness of winter to the brightness of summer, Circle of Days explores the passage of time with honesty and heart. The songs hold both hope and uncertainty, weaving together personal stories and broader reflections on change, loss, and resilience. It’s a natural extension of what The Nields have always done so well: pairing memorable melodies with lyrics that feel lived-in and true.

Join us for an evening of harmony, humor, and songs that stay with you, performed by artists who have spent decades honing not just their sound, but their connection to the audience.

SAMPLE SONG

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.

﻿

Similar Events

View All

Caffè Lena

Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

class

Aug 6 • 9:30 AM

Caffè Lena

School of Music Slow Jam

American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

class

Aug 6 • 1 PM

Caffè Lena

Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

class

Aug 7 • 9:30 AM

Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne
2026-08-07 09:30 - 15:30
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

Share:

Music is a gift best shared with friends! Here is an exciting opportunity for youth 12-17 (or by instructor permission) to learn music in a dynamic group setting. This camp is for students who already have some experience singing songs and playing string instruments (familiar with the keys of D, G, and C).

Students enrolled in the camp will participate in a special open discussion with Janis Ian on August 6, offering young songwriters a rare opportunity to hear firsthand about artistic life, creative discipline, and building a career with integrity.

In Troubadours in Training camp we will explore:

-How to find and build a repertoire of songs and tunes

-Expanding vocabulary on one's instrument

-Group and harmony singing

-Vocal technique

-Developing a sense of rhythm and groove

-Playing on stage and performance practice

-Songwriting and arranging

This summer camp is a Monday through Friday day camp meeting 9:30am-3:30pm. In this music intensive week we will learn so much after five days together! At the end of the final day there will be a recital/sharing session for family and friends.

Scholarships are available as well as instrument loans.

#youthclass

Price

General
$525.00

More Information

Similar Events

View All

Caffè Lena

Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

class

Aug 6 • 9:30 AM

Caffè Lena

School of Music Slow Jam

American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

class

Aug 6 • 1 PM

Caffè Lena

Janis Ian Explains the World

Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

class

Aug 7 • 3 PM

Janis Ian Explains the World
2026-08-07 15:00 - 16:00
Instructional Singer Songwriter Storytelling

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Designed for songwriters, artists, creatives, and curious minds alike, the sessions will explore songwriting, storytelling, creativity, the music business, and the lived experiences behind a lifetime in music.

The class will meet each Friday in August. The price is for all four classes.

Whether you're writing your first song, honing your craft, or simply love hearing how great artists think, these sessions offer a rare opportunity to explore songwriting, storytelling, creativity, the music business, and war stories! — all the lessons learned over a lifetime in music.

Janis Ian is one of America’s most influential songwriters, known for her fearless honesty, literary songwriting, and groundbreaking career spanning more than six decades. She first gained national attention as a teenager with “Society’s Child,” a bold song confronting interracial relationships in 1960s America, and later earned international acclaim with classics like “At Seventeen” and “Jesse.” A multiple GRAMMY Award winner, author, activist, and mentor, Ian has spent her life using music to explore identity, justice, vulnerability, and the human experience with uncommon depth and compassion.

For more information, please visit https://janisian.com and

https://janisian.com/videos/janis-ians-speech-at-berklee- college-of-music//

#adultclass

Price

General
$120.00

More Information

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Songwriting Club

Singer Songwriter Workshop

class

Aug 8 • 10 AM

Sean Rowe
2026-08-07 20:00 - 22:00
Singer Songwriter Workshop

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Rooted in the woods of the Capital Region yet known on stages around the world, Sean Rowe brings his unmistakable voice and soulful, poetic songwriting back to Caffè Lena.

With a baritone described by NPR’s All Songs Considered as capable of "crushing granite," Rowe delivers songs that are both tender and thunderous. The Wall Street Journal calls his voice and approach “timeless,” evoking the intensity of late-'60s Van Morrison and the raw honesty of Johnny Cash. Whether playing Mountain Jam, Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival, or sharing bills with Robert Plant and Alabama Shakes, Rowe commands attention wherever he goes.

His song “To Leave Something Behind” reached millions through the film The Accountant and his national TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live introduced his intimate style to an even wider audience.

Rowe recently released the first single "Burn Baby Burn" from his upcoming album Good Fiction, "I wrote Good Fiction when the world and my romantic relationship at the time were shutting down and falling apart. Tracks like "Burn Baby Burn," "Punchline," and "Birds" are exactly where my head was at. Out of everything I’ve ever recorded, this one has the most of me in it. I was vulnerable, bleeding out a bit, but that kind of chaos is useful if you know how to channel it.

I deliberately stripped the production down to the bone. Sometimes it felt too naked, too exposed. But feeling that close to the edge meant I was on the right track. Polishing it would have been a lie.

The goal when making records is always the same for me: say what needs to be said with the least amount of clutter and find a path nobody else is walking. But you can't control the output. Songs show up when and how they want. There’s a line in "Psilocybin Playlist" that sums up the whole trip: “It’s Venus or Mars, no matter the same pill.”

That's the unruliness of the experience. A measured dose doesn't mean a predictable high. Making a record works the same way. You can show up sober, with the perfect tools and the best intentions, and the music will still take you wherever it wants. The songs have their own agenda. I’m just in the passenger seat."

Born from a season of upheaval and change, these songs​ and this performance will be another incredible Sean Rowe experience.

SAMPLE SONG

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.

﻿

Similar Events

View All

Caffè Lena

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American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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Aug 13 • 1 PM

Songwriting Club
2026-08-08 10:00 - 12:00
American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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I'm happy to announce that Songwriting Club is back at Caffè Lena with a more structured time slot. "Second Saturday Songwriting Club" will meet (you guessed it) every second Saturday! Starting January 10th 10am – 12pm. Hosted by Reese Fulmer and Girl Blue! The club will meet monthly with special guests being a more "special" event. Bring your pens, pencils, instruments, thinking caps, favorite songs.

January 10th

10am – 12pm

$5 donation

cookies and coffee by donation

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Songwriting Club
2026-08-08 10:00 - 12:00
American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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Caffè Lena's Songwriting Club meets every second Saturday from 10am-12pm, giving local songwriters of all ages and experience levels a chance to hone their skills, add tools to their songwriting kit, practice the craft with writing exercises, and discuss tips and concepts with their peers. The club is hosted by Reese Fulmer and Girl Blue (Arielle Woodul), both touring songwriters based in the Capital Region, and organized by the Caffè Lena School of Music Director Matt Griffin. For this special edition of Songwriting Club, Reese and Arielle will be joined by a special guest host, the legendary Grammy-winning songwriter Janis Ian. Through a focused interview session with the hosts, interactive discussion with the club members, and participation in the writing exercises and prompt-based work of the club, Janis will share advice and wisdom from her life and career.

A limited amount of tickets are available to observe the club and participate in the exercises. Discussion of songwriting craft will be limited to active club members, but attendees are welcome to submit questions in advance to Reese@caffelena.org for consideration as part of the hosts' interview with Janis. Bring a pen and paper – no phones or recording devices allowed!

﻿

Price

General
$525.00

More Information

Similar Events

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Summer Camp: Troubadour in Training with Oona Grady and James Gascoyne

American Roots Bluegrass Celtic Folk Instructional

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American Roots Bluegrass Country Family Folk Workshop

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