Caffe Lena – A Fun and Busy Week

Greetings – It’s a fun and busy week for all of us! I hope the change of schedule gives you time to enjoy family, play outdoors and take in some live music at night. Lots of fun shows coming up between Christmas and New Year’s. A heads up on New Year’s Eve: we will be streaming our very popular annual concert highlights show. This will run as a free YouTube Premiere at 8 PM. At the same time at Caffe Lena, we’ll be joining the Saratoga New Year’s Fest with two shows featuring Los Sugar Kings. Entrance for those shows comes with your Saratoga NYE badge, available HERE.

See you at the show,

Sarah

P.S. Quick reminder that we’re down to the final week of Caffe Lena’s Annual Fund Drive. If you wonder whether or not your donation makes a difference, it really does. Here are some numbers that show how important your support is. Thank you!

– WEEK AT A GLANCE –

Monday

7 PM Open Mic Night

Tuesday

Closed for Christmas Eve Holiday

8 PM “Live From Caffe Lena” on WEXT 97.7 or 106.1 FM

Wednesday

Closed for Christmas Holiday

7 PM & 12 AM “Live From Caffè Lena” on Folk Music Notebook

Thursday

7 PM RACQUETTE RIVER ROUNDERS ANNUAL BOXING DAY REUNION SHOW

Friday

5 & 8 PM STEPHEN KELLOGG

Saturday

4 & 7 PM NEW AMERICAN CUISINE

Sunday

9 AM Dharma Meditation with Pierre Zimmerman

7 PM  LOST LEADERS

– HIGHLIGHTS –

Guitarist Danny Gotham and singer-songwriter John Kribs formed the Rounders in 1978 along with the late bassist Michael Hadfield. They play everything from traditional reels and jigs to Fats Waller, Elvis Presley and their own originals. They officially disbanded in 1982, but their annual Boxing Day Reunion Show at Lena’s has become a cherished annual event for die-hard fans and newcomers, alike.

Songwriter, author, inspirational speaker and comedian Stephen Kellogg offers “a note of solidarity to anyone looking for hope in hopeless situations.” Planet Bluegrass calls him “a first class songwriter with a poet’s gift for fresh imagery,” and Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz says, “there are few people in rock n’ roll who are just so great.” He has received the Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year award and has been nominated for a Grammy.

Saratoga’s own indie pop rockers draw musical inspiration from The Beatles and John Mayer to Dispatch and the Lumineers. Filled with hooks and driven by melody, they spice up their songs with catchy vocal harmonies and decisive percussion and bass. These Saratoga High School grads have continued to work hard, get incredibly good, and put out really strong new songs.

“Byron, you & Peter got some Everly Brothers shit going on…” -Larry Campbell

NYC singer and irresistible personality Peter Cole, along with two-time Grammy-winner Byron Isaacs (current member of The Lumineers) have branched out from their early commitment to Americana and entered a retro pop/rock universe. Born out of Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Ramble and quickly celebrated in the pages of RELIX, No Depression and The Huffington Post, their journey continues in their newest collection, Hungry Ghosts, an exploration of desire and acceptance.

Let the sounds of the Caribbean provide a hot start to your New Year! Catch Ben Folds up at the City Center, then head down to Phila Street for the roots-rock-reggae repertoire of Los Sugar Kings! Their dynamic live shows pull the audience into a space that’s passionate, thoughtful, and joyful.

We’re still adding a couple more shows to this year’s New Year’s Eve recap so we don’t have a YouTube Premiere link for you yet, but mark your calendar and join us for 24 diverse concert highlights from all of 2024!  What a great year of music!

– JUST ANNOUNCED –

JAZZ at Caffè Lena: The Chuck Lamb Duo with Special Guest Joe Locke

Tuesday, January 14, 7 PM

“A Joyful Noise!” Gospel Dinner led by Soulist Garland Nelson

Sunday, January 26, 5 PM

Bright Series: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

Saturday, March 15, 8 PM

Driftwood

Friday, June 13 & 14, 8 PM

Sue Foley

Sunday, June 22, 7 PM