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Caffè Lena @ SPAC

SPAC 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

“Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival will return for a free day-long concert on Saturday, October 5 from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Free

Richard Shindell

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

Richard Shindell

$41.21

Jazz at Caffe Lena: Chuck Lamb Trio Featuring Russell Haight

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

Jazz Series curator and musical anchor Chuck Lamb, a member of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet since 2002, is a dynamic and emotive pianist, as well as a prolific composer of jazz, fusion, classical, and world music.Chuck Lamb's special guest for this month's JAZZ at Caffe Lena is Russell Haight (DMA, University of Texas, 2009). Russell is a saxophonist specializing in jazz theory and improvisation and serves as jazz coordinator at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. In the jazz idiom he has performed with luminaries such as Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous, Jim McNeely, and George Duke; in the commercial idiom, he has performed with Christopher Cross and earned a Grammy nomination with blues artist Ruthie Foster in 2021.

In 2017, Haight released Destination, his first album as a leader, which won a Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards; in 2019, he released his book, Odd-Meter Etudes for Saxophone with Mel Bay Publishers. He has presented or performed at the International Saxophone Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance, Jazz Education Network, and Texas Music Educators Association conferences.

$32.54

The Momentum Series: Vanessa Collier Album Release

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

12x Blues Music Award nominee and 4x winner Vanessa Collier comes to us with a brand new album featuring her fiery saxophone and soulful voice. Described by Rolling Stone as an "up-and-comer" and by American Songwriter as a "queen," Collier channels funk, soul, rock, and blues into her powerful performances.

$41.21

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

Jeffrey Gaines

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

Jeffrey Gaines

$30.37

Emilie-Claire Barlow

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

Emilie-Claire Barlow

$34.71

Robert Ellis

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

Robert Ellis

$27.12

Tom Paxton & The Don Juans

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

Tom Paxton & The DonJuans

$81.35

Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter

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

Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter

$27.12

Bright Series: John Smith

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

Bright Series: John Smith

$27.12

The Lovestruck Balladeers

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

The Lovestruck Balladeers

$27.12

Deadgrass

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

Deadgrass

$30.37

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

Still Rockin’ In the Free World: A Tribute to Neil Young

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

anadian rock legend Neil Young has had an outsized influence on contemporary music, with his brilliant songwriting, sprawling electric and acoustic alter egos, and restless attitude towards experimentation. He has equally influenced generations of sensitive singer-songwriters, guitar-wielding Americana acts, and grunge/noise acts like Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Young turns 79 in November, so tonight Caffè Lena celebrates his indelible mark on music with “Still Rockin' In the Free World: A Tribute to Neil Young.”

The performance joins six Capital Region acts: Rick Bolton, Coal Palace Kings, The Croaks,
Nick Ferrandino, Mike McMann and the UnderDawgs and Super 400. This eclectic line-up will interpret selections from across Young’s varied career.

This event isn't just about celebrating Young's iconic catalog; it's a fundraiser to support Caffe Lena's free and donation-optional open mics for songwriters, storytellers, musicians and poets. Caffe Lena offers the community nearly a dozen opportunities each month to share creative work in our historic listening room, supported by professional sound production and superb equipment. Open mics are where up-and-coming artists cut their teeth and develop their craft, continuing the work that Young inspires. Our open stage programs and jams are open to all ages and are all about craft and community.

Expect fresh takes on Young's classics, such as "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man," to his electrifying work with Crazy Horse on tracks like "Cinnamon Girl" and "Rockin' in the Free World." It’s a showcase of local talent, blending reverence for the past with an eye on the future of music.

$32.54

Ryanhood

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

Ryanhood

$27.12

Skidmore Jazz Students

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

Enjoy an evening of diverse jazz styles and inspiring talent as the jazz music students of Skidmore College take the stage with their guitars, brass, reeds, keyboards, drums and vocals. They never fail to put on a truly engaging show of jazz standards and contemporary compositions. This free community concert gives Saratogians a chance to experience the hard work going on in Skidmore’s celebrated music department.

Free