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things to do in Saratoga
C.L.U.E.! the Caffe Lena Ukulele Ensemble with Ron Gordon (10 weeks)
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesBright Series: Country GongBang
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesBright Series: Country GongBang
Capital Region Blues Network Solo-Duo Competition
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesSolo/duo acts will be competing for the honor of representing the Capital Region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Three acts will be competing for the honor of representing the Capital Region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in January, 2025. Sponsored by the Capital Region Blues Network (an affiliate of the Blues Foundation), the competition takes place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 22 at Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs. The competing Solo-Duo musicians will be named prior to the show.
Saratoga Musicians Raise Funds for SNACPack
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesFive local bands play with no amplification whatsoever in Lena's intimate listening room. This extraordinary show, organized by local artist Lawrence White, will create an experience we've never had at Caffe Lena. The artists will perform in the center of the room, and the tables and seats will surround them on all sides, with seating even available on stage!
The line-up of talent is top shelf: Annie & The Hedonists, Rick Bolton & Friends, Garland Nelson, Jeff Brisbin, and White's own band, The Beat Generation.
This event is a night of unity and artistry during Saratoga Peace Week, with neighbors taking care of neighbors right here at home. All proceeds will benefit SNACPack, the Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children program, which fills backpacks with nutritious food for local kids who need food support at home on weekends. 100% of the ticket price goes to SNACPack.
Rochmon Record Club Listening Party: Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.”
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesOn Tuesday, September 17 Rochmon Record Club will converge at Caffe’ Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, to listen to, and learn about, Bruce Springsteen’s seventh studio album, “Born In The U.S.A.” Doors open at 6:30, and the show begins at 7 pm with a live audio & video presentation by Chuck Vosganian aka “Rochmon”.
Lena Go Round – Songwriter Showcase with Erin Harkes
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesMusician/comedian Erin Harkes continues her songwriters' series at Caffè Lena in February. 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.
The featured musicians this month will be newcomer Kayla Phillips, John Brodeur and Michael Eck.
Momentum Series: Daniel Champagne
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesDaniel Champagne
Folk Heritage Series: Michael Jerling
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesMichael Jerling
Nordlys Global Voices: Yacouba Sissoko & SIYA
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesYacouba Sissoko
Poetry Open Mic featuring Jackie Craven
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesPoetry Open Mic featuring Jackie Craven
Nordlys Global Voices: Skye Consort & Emma Björling
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesSkye Consort & Emma Björling
Folk Heritage Series: The Brothers Four
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesThe Brothers Four
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.
Richard Shindell
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesRichard Shindell
Jazz at Caffe Lena: Chuck Lamb Trio Featuring Russell Haight
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesJazz 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.
The Momentum Series: Vanessa Collier Album Release
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States12x 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.
The Momentum Series: Vanessa Collier Album Release
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United States12x 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.
Melissa Ferrick with opener Sweet Petunia
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesMarking 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.
Emilie-Claire Barlow
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesEmilie-Claire Barlow
Rochmon Record Club Listening Party – The Beatles – “Let It Be”
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesOctober is Beatles month at the Rochmon Record Club. “Let It Be”, was released on May 8, 1970, a month after the announcement of the band’s breakup. Originally titled “Get Back” the album was conceived as a return to the band’s songwriting and arranging from their earlier days. Renamed “Let It Be” the album includes the title song, “Across The Universe”, “The Long And Winding Road”, “Get Back”, George Harrison’s, “I Me Mine” and 7 more.
Tom Paxton & The Don Juans
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesTom Paxton & The DonJuans
Ari Hest with opener Jacob Shipley
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesAri Hest with opener Jacob Shipley
A Free Pop-up Health Clinic for the Creative Community who are Uninsured and Under-Insured
caffe lena 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY, United StatesA Free Pop-up Health Clinic for the Creative Community who are Uninsured and Under-Insured