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Melissa Ferrick with opener Sweet Petunia

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Marking 30 years since their major label debut, Boston songwriter Melissa Ferrick dropped "Black Dress," their first original music in eight years, and signed with iconic label Kill Rock Stars. To celebrate, they're hitting the road with a retrospective show titled Throughlines.

Ferrick is a legend in the industry, known for their prolific output and tireless work ethic. Their intricate guitar playing, poetic lyrics, and a style floating somewhere between alternative rock, punk, and folk is packed with insight and excitement. They've released 18 albums on Atlantic, W.A.R. MPress and on their own labels. They've won numerous awards for songwriting, production, and performance. They've shared stages with Morrissey, Joan Armatrading, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Mark Cohen, Paul Westerberg, Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Ani DiFranco, k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, and many more.

Beyond their music career, Ferrick is shaping future stars as a Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University in the Music Department. They teach courses in the music business, songwriting, creative entrepreneurship, demo recording and production, live performance, and the psychology of creativity. From 2013 to 2019, Melissa was an Associate Professor of Songwriting at Berklee College of Music. They hold an Ed.M from Harvard University, solidifying their role as a multi-talented powerhouse in the music world.

Opener Sweet Petunia is a Boston-based alt-folk duo that studied with Ferrick. Powerful songwriters and harmonizers as well as lightning quick players, they are unapologetically queer and unafraid to get loud and angry in songs that merge punk & DIY with a rich folk tradition.

$32.54

Robert Ellis

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Robert Ellis

$27.12

Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter

$27.12

Lena Go Round – Songwriter Showcase with Erin Harkes

Musician/comedian Erin Harkes continues her songwriters' series at Caffè Lena in October. This monthly showcase, curated and hosted by Harkes, spotlights rising talent, who take turns playing their songs and telling stories “in the round,” for an audience and for each other. Lena Go Round is inspired by the original music that has been the cornerstone of Caffè Lena’s 63 years in operation, and is quickly becoming a must-see event in the Capital District.

$21.69

Bright Series: Maya de Vitry

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Bright Series: Maya de Vitry

$27.12

Little Folks Series: Jenna Nicholls

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Whether she’s belting out a New Orleans-style number on her ukulele, singing an original cowboy tune or lush ballad at the piano, this multi-instrumentalist gives vintage sounds a new life. Your kids will love Jenna's fun show!

Free

Christopher Paul Stelling

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Christopher Paul Stelling

$27.12

Michael McDermott

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Michael McDermott

$27.12

Ryanhood

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Ryanhood

$27.12

Dana Cooper – Album Release

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Cooper honed his craft in Kansas City coffeehouses and clubs, leading to his 1972 Elektra Records debut. He built his reputation as a folk-country singer-songwriter over the decades on the club circuit while also collaborating with Lyle Lovett, Susan Gibson, Shake Russell, Kim Richey, Hal Ketchum, Kim Carnes, Susan Werner and more. Central to Cooper's unique artistry is his ability to connect with a live audience. His decades of experience shine through in the ease and humor he brings to the stage on Live at Caffe Lena: The Stories & Songs. This special album captures the magic of his Saratoga performance in front of an audience that was clearly having a great time. It marks the first time that Cooper's stories have been included on a recording. A portion of sales will benefit Caffe Lena's mission to provide music, connection and learning from a legendary venue.

$27.12

TrueSongs: Lyrics of Life 2024

Spa Little Theatre 19 Roosevelt Dr, Saratoga Springs, United States

Now in its fifth year, TrueSongs is Caffe Lena's annual celebration of courage, resilience and caring. Seven local people who have faced a significant challenge have been paired with professional songwriters. Each team will take the stage together to share with us, through words and music, a story of overcoming adversity. It's an emotional and uplifting evening of true stories, and the songs they've inspired.

Each of our storytellers is representing a local nonprofit that helped them successfully overcome their life challenge. This year we will hear from a mother who made the decision to come to America to support her family back in Brazil (TriCounty Literacy Volunteers); a woman who nursed her mother through Alzheimers disease (Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern NY); a couple that found a way to stay in the home they love after one became wheelchair bound (Rebuilding Together Saratoga County); a military veteran who recovered from life-threatening PTSD (Alliance 180); a teen mother who is now preparing to graduate from nursing school (WAIT House); and a refugee from violence in El Salvador who now runs a cultural empowerment program in Albany (Capital District Latinos).

Our exciting line-up of songwriters is Ellis Paul, Carolyn Shapiro, Hayley Reardon, Joe Jencks, Mark Erelli, and Judy Kass.

This annual performance has outgrown Caffe Lena and will take place this year at Spa Little Theater.
TrueSongs 2024 is made possible by the generous support of Business For Good, with additional support provided by Carlton & Terry DeBrule.

$21.69

The Beatle Caffe

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

Curated and hosted by Dave Maswick and Joel Brown, the 2024 Beatle Caffe will feature several of the Capital District's most acclaimed acts, including Lori, Kenny and Ellie of the rock band Super 400, bluegrass favorites Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, veteran duo Maswick and Brown, and Skidmore standouts "Question of the Century" and college phenom "Acearah".

$37.97

Skidmore Songwriters

caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

A free community concert by students in Skidmore Senior-Artist-in-Residence Joel Brown’s semester-long songwriting workshop.

What better way to celebrate Skidmore College’s Songwriting Workshop than to showcase these talented students' work at Caffè Lena? Join Joel Brown and his class for a concert of sometimes nostalgic, sometimes fun, but always thoughtful songwriting! 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.

Free