Caffe Lena

11/23/2024

🎉 Ring in the New Year with Los Sugar Kings at Caffè Lena! 🎉

Get ready for an electrifying night as we welcome the incredible Los Sugar Kings to our stage for two unforgettable New Year’s Eve shows! Known for their high-energy blend of Afro-Cuban and R&B grooves, this powerhouse band will have you dancing into 2025. 💃🕺

We’re proud to be part of Saratoga’s big New Year’s Eve celebration. Start the new year surrounded by friends, music, and the magic of live performance. Secure your tickets now!

🎟️ https://ow.ly/FrJa50U9CIb

11/23/2024

Check out a free preview of our show on CaffeLenaTV! For over 200 live streams per year plus an extensive library of archives, check out: https://caffelena.tv/programs/live-lucy-kaplansky

"Utterly beautiful and affecting..." singer/songwriter Lucy Kaplansky.

11/22/2024

🎶We’re thrilled to announce that Matt Griffin (aka Griff) will be opening for Rees Shad & The Conversations on December 20th! 🎸

Griff, soon to be the Director of the Caffè Lena School of Music, is a talented multi-instrumentalist based in Schuylerville, NY. A Saratoga native, he’s played with beloved local groups like Blue Ranger Whizbang, and The Millstone Rounders. His solo work, inspired by legends like Elizabeth Cotten, Wilco and Doc Watson, dives deep into the rhythms of everyday life. 🌟

Not only is Griff a gifted musician, but he’s also the creator and editor of our new fanzine, Folkish. Don’t miss his heartfelt sounds and stories on 12/20!

🎟️ Grab your tickets now: https://ow.ly/yVrq50UcngB

Rees Shad

11/21/2024

Check out a free preview of our show on CaffeLenaTV! For over 200 live streams per year plus an extensive library of archives, check out: https://caffelena.tv/programs/live-cohen-ellis-ellis

For fans of acoustic blues, it just doesn't get any better than this.

11/21/2024

🎶 We’re On Our Way! 🎶

It has been about a week since we kicked off our 2024 Annual Fund Drive, and we need your help to reach our goal by December 31st. Your support keeps Caffè Lena thriving as a hub for live music, creativity, and community connection.

Click here to pitch in now: https://www.caffelena.org/donate/

💬 Check out some of the amazing reasons why our community members support Caffè Lena and join them in keeping the music alive. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we can do it! ❤️

11/21/2024

🎶✨ TrueSongs – Lyrics of Life: A Night to Remember ✨🎶
We are deeply moved by the heartfelt review from Metroland Now of our recent TrueSongs event. The review is by Rory Graham with photos by Tom Miller. The evening was a powerful testament to the strength, compassion, and resilience within our community.

Storytellers and musicians came together to share profound narratives that touched every heart in the room. A special thank you to the six local nonprofits and their representatives who bravely shared their journeys, and to the talented artists who transformed these stories into soul-stirring songs. 💛

Missed it? Catch the full review here: https://ow.ly/m6yG50Ubvtf

Let’s keep the spirit alive—Rory also published the meaningful ways the audience could support the vital work of the non-profits. At TrueSongs, Sarah Craig invited the nonprofit directors back on stage to share simple, meaningful ways the audience could support them. It was a powerful reminder that small actions can create big change.

REVIEW: TrueSongs – Lyrics of Life, presented by Caffé Lena live musicreviewgallery Nov 20 Written By Rory Graham 11/16/2024 at The Spa Little Theatre, Saratoga All photos by Tom Miller “TrueSongs is designed to be an event that you need to be at in order to understand and viscerally feel the d...

11/21/2024

🎶✨ Slow Jams & Bluegrass Vibes at Caffè Lena ✨🎶

Tonight’s Bluegrass Jam was pure magic! 🌟 Whether you’re a seasoned picker, just learning your first chords, or simply a music lover, our Slow Jams and Bluegrass Jam Nights are for everyone. 💛

Join us for the next one to play, listen, and soak up the joy of community music-making. All levels are welcome—bring your instrument, your voice, or just your love of good tunes! 🎻🪕

Enjoy light bites from our menu (the hot chocolate is a crowd favorite ☕🍫 as are Lena's Chocolate chip cookies 🍪) and settle in for an evening of melodies that warm the soul.

📅 Weekly Slow Jams and other acoustic jams are happening regularly—check our calendar to join the fun!
📍 Caffè Lena – where music lives and grows with your support 🙏

Let us know in the comments—what’s your favorite tune to jam on? 🎵👇

11/20/2024

🎶 The Beauty of an Artist Named Jazzmeia 🎶

Is Jazzmeia Jazzmeia Horn's her real name? Absolutely! Her grandmother gave her the name Jazzmeia before she was even born. In an interview, Jazzmeia shared, “My late grandmother, who was married to the church reverend and played piano and organ in the church, gave me my name, Jazzmeia.”

Her name perfectly captures the essence of who she is—rooted in tradition yet constantly pushing boundaries in the world of jazz. 🌟

Catch this Grammy-nominated artist LIVE at Caffè Lena this Sunday, November 24, with two shows at 4 PM and 7 PM. This is your chance to witness her extraordinary talent in an intimate setting.

🎟️ Tickets available here: https://ow.ly/N9yj50TKmEm

11/20/2024

Join Drank The Gold's Oona Grady & James Gascoyne for a wonderful session of song and story. A perfect break in the morning to learn, play and sing along! Join us in-person or online.

This is a free program for children 18 months to age six, courtesy of Fenimore Asset Management, Kevin & Claudia Bright, and The Charles R Wood Foundation

11/20/2024

🎷✨ JAZZ at Caffè Lena: Chuck Lamb with Special Guest Jimmy Greene ✨🎷

Join us for an unforgettable night of world-class jazz as resident composer and pianist Chuck Lamb Music & Piano welcomes GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist Jimmy Greene to the Caffè Lena stage.

Chuck, a member of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet , is renowned for his emotive piano work and boundary-pushing compositions. Each month, he collaborates with a top jazz artist to create spontaneous, exhilarating performances that explore new musical landscapes. This month’s guest, , brings his soulful sound and inspiring artistry to Saratoga. 🌟

Greene’s impressive career includes performances with legends like Horace Silver and Harry Connick Jr , as well as a professorship in Jazz Studies. Jazzwise Magazine calls him “one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of live jazz! 🎶

📅 12/10 at 7 PM
🎟️ Reserve your seat now: https://ow.ly/ruQZ50Uaxte

This series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

11/19/2024

🎶 Meet Girl Love, a Featured Songwriter in the Next Lena Go Round Showcase 🎶

Girl Love a.k.a. Laura Beth Johnson, is an award-winning poet and songwriter from Upstate New York known for her dark blend of story and soul. With her indie-folk roots and a mission to affirm q***r holiness through folk pop music, Girl Love has captivated audiences across the Capital Region. 🌈✨

Her sophomore album, Girl Love, debuted to a sold-out crowd right here at Caffè Lena in 2023, and her haunting melodies and brash vocals continue to resonate. Laura is not only a gifted performer but also a teacher, leading songwriting groups for Caffè Lena’s School of Music.

Join us for the next Lena Go Round Songwriter’s Showcase with .morris.315080 Sawyer Fredericks and hosted by the wonderous Erin Harkes

📅 November 27 at 7:30 PM
🎟️ https://ow.ly/uuST50U9A1B

11/19/2024

✨ This Week at Caffè Lena ✨

Sarah Craig’s latest newsletter is here, filled with highlights of the amazing music, stories, and moments coming up this week 🎶 Dive in to see what’s in store and plan your next visit to our cozy, music-filled corner of Saratoga.

This week's live music schedule for Caffe Lena, the Capital Region's #1 small venue. Open every night for concerts `and events.

11/19/2024

An Inspiring Visit with Loreena McKennitt🌟

The Director of our Music School, Vivian Nesbitt, who is the co-host of Art of the Song, and her husband, John Dillon, interviewed the extraordinary Canadian singer and composer Loreena McKennitt. Over her three-decade career, Loreena’s “eclectic Celtic” music has garnered critical acclaim and earned gold, platinum, and multi-platinum status in 15 countries across 4 continents. 🎶✨

More than just an artist, Loreena embodies a deep commitment to core values. Her top three?
❤️ Be compassionate and never forget how to love
🌍 Think inclusively
🛡️ Reclaim noble values like truth, honesty, honor, and courage

In their conversation, Loreena shared insights about her 18th album, Lost Souls, and the passion and purpose that fuel her music.

Tune in on the Folk Music Notebook online https://ow.ly/5Vnl50U9fpf
Monday November 18th at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
with an encore Tuesday at 6am ET / 3am PT

📀 What’s your favorite Loreena McKennitt song? Let us know in the comments!

Caffè Lena School of Music Loreena Mckennitt Folk Music Notebook

11/18/2024

🎶 Music is the heart of it all 🎶

Caffè Lena’s Annual Fund Drive has officially started, and we need your help to reach our goal of $55,000 by December 31st! Together, we’ve built something truly special – a space that’s rooted in real, built for music lovers, and sustained by you.

Every artist on our stage, from legends to local gems, adds to the vibrant community we share. This video captures some unforgettable performances, and we invite you to watch, reminisce, and consider making a gift today to keep this heart of music beating strong. ❤️

Help keep the music alive. Donate today! https://www.caffelena.org/donate/

Watch, enjoy, and let’s keep Caffè Lena strong!

11/17/2024

Check out a free preview of our show on CaffeLenaTV! For over 200 live streams per year plus an extensive library of archives, check out: https://caffelena.tv/programs/live-skidmore-songwriters

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

11/17/2024

Check out a free preview of our show on CaffeLenaTV! For over 200 live streams per year plus an extensive library of archives, check out: https://caffelena.tv/programs/live-beatle-caffe

A tribute performed by 518 A-listers to celebrate 60 years of The Beatles in US

11/17/2024

🎶 Step into the world of Parisian swing and Balkan Gypsy rhythms with the incredible Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band 🎶

Dubbed the "Gypsy-jazz Warbler" by The New York Times, Tatiana Eva Marie brings a fresh, vibrant energy to the trad jazz scene, blending Django Reinhardt’s French swing with influences from Balkan Gypsy and folk music. With nearly 100 million views on YouTube, this young phenom has captured hearts worldwide.

Now based in Brooklyn, Tatiana leads the Avalon Jazz Band, recognized as the top reference for French swing, and serves as an ambassador of “1930s Paris.” Don’t miss this chance to experience their first-ever performance at Caffè Lena.