Caffe Lena is known for its extraordinary music and for being the longest operating folk music venues within the United States. Caffe Lena has now taken it to another level with their launch of their brand new app “Caffe Lena TV.”
The app allows easy access to live streaming concerts, archived videos, and the opportunity to be an interactive audience member by texting comments throughout the show. To download the app, just search “Caffe Lena TV” in your AppStore (iOS), PlayStore (Android) or Roku Store or click the link above and follow the instructions to sign in!
Caffe Lena launched a School of Music in 2020 which helps to carry on the folk tradition of music for students, children and adults. Some of America’s best loved songwriters have gotten their careers launched from Caffe Lena like American-blues songwriter, Sawyer Fredericks.
Caffe Lena was called “An American treasure” by The Library of Congress and is recognized for their help in the development of American music from The GRAMMY Foundation.
Check out Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs and the world-class performers that will get your foot tapping to the music. The Caffe Lena App thanks those for supporting their non-profit venue and keeping independent music alive!
The Bob Stump Band will perform at Caffe Lena on March 31st at 7 PM. Hailing from the Hudson Valley, the band plays a plethora of genres including blues-jazz, folk, bluegrass, country, and rock. The performance will be a euphonic mixture of sounds as the band traverses through genres. For this reason, the event will have a song for everyone.
Leading the band is a singer-songwriter and guitarist Bob Stump. He is joined by Ernie Sites, a former rodeo cowboy from Idaho. He has traveled the United States writing and performing songs, poems, and stories. Lastly, Roy Coates plays the bass, however, he also has experience playing the tuba on big stages such as Carnegie Hall and Yankee Stadium. The three share a love for bluegrass and folk, and their love shines through during their performances.
The Bob Stump Band
Caffe Lena, the venue at which the band is set to perform at, has an extensive history. Located in Saratoga Springs and founded in 1960, the venue has been hosting live music events for over sixty years. Most notably, Caffe Lena hosts a plethora of rising folk and indie performers. In fact, the venue hosted Bob Dylan for two historic nights in 1961, a year before the release of his debut album.
Tickets for the event start at $10 and are available on Eventbrite. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will also be hosted. Tickets for the live stream start at $5 and give you access to the live stream’s VOD (video on demand) for a week.
Caroga Arts Collective have recently announced their spring residency featuring KASA quartet and CLMF artists Brian Shank and Geoff Saunders. They will hold four concerts from March 24-27.
“KASA quartet : An Evening of Music and Friendship” will highlight chamber music’s ability to bring listeners together. The group will perform pieces from films and Broadway, as well popular arrangements from Frank Churchill, Jacob Collier and more.
Originally founded in 2016, KASA quartet uses multiple styles to create their unique performances. With members Andy Liang, Aaron Schwartz, Kyle Price and Stephanie Price-Wong, the quartet has taught and performed at a number of places including Ravinia Festival, SPAC and Chamber Music Connection.
Eddie Barbash
The KASA quartet will also do a special NYC showcase with Eddie Barbash on 3/22. Alongside performances, the group have been working on their debut album with a number of talented collaborators like Glenn Zaleski, WARP trio and Empire Wild.
Two concerts, 3/24 and 3/26, will have free attendance, but optional donations can be made. RSVP will be required for the 3/25 show and the 3/27 show will require a ticket purchase. Tickets can be found here. More information can be found on the Caroga Arts website.
Tinsley Ellis is on tour across America following his latest album release, Devil May Care, and he made a stop in Saratoga Springs on February 19th to play at Caffe Lena. The Atlanta-born front man released his first album, Cool on it, in 1986 and has been consistently putting out music ever since. Tinsley’s hard earned experience was evident from the moment he took the stage; with no words spoken, he jumped right into his upbeat blues with songs including: ‘One Less Reason,’ and ‘To the Devil for a Dime.’
These opening songs set the tone for whole show. Tinsley impressed the crowd with his powerful vocals and even stronger guitar solos. For some, their instruments are an extension of their bodies, and this was certainly the case for Mr. Ellis. Tinsley’s road worn guitars showed their use, and he showed Caffe Lena just how well he can use them. His pedal board was minimal, and this left the control over Tinsley’s tone entirely in his own hands. After just these two songs, it was clear what the Saratoga crowd was in for a masterclass in blues guitar.
Tinsley came out hot and stayed hot, counting off song after song with no pauses in between. He continued on with tracks from his 1994 album Storm Warning, including: ‘A Quitter Never Wins’ and ‘The Next Miss Wrong.’ Eventually, Tinsley would let the room simmer as he pulled up a stool, and grabbed his resonator to play some slide guitar for the Saratoga crowd. In the image above, you can see the reflection cast on the ceiling by the beautiful silver top of his guitar. Tinsley covered songs by both Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon before playing one solo tune.
When the band returned to the stage, the room’s energy shot back up during Tinsley’s high tempo track, ’28 Days,’ off the new album. Fans cheered along, and one fan in particular, with his cane raised high, shouted “YEAH TINS,” just as he had done all throughout the night. The tempo came back down again for another new song called ‘Slow Train to Hell,’ and the regular set closed out with ‘Pawnbroker.’ After a brief stage exit, Tinsley and co. returned to the stage for a crowd-welcomed encore that left Caffe Lena’s patrons standing for an ovation.
Below you can check out a clip from Tinsley’s set on Caffe Lena’s YouTube channel. Skip to around minute 8 to see Tinsley take the stage.
After this stop in Saratoga, Tinsley Ellis will be continuing on down the road to Nashville before hitting the rest of the U.S. For all of his upcoming tour dates you can visit Tinsley’s website. You can also listen to his new album on Spotify. And don’t forget to check out Tinsley’s YouTube channel and Instagram. For future shows at Caffe Lena, visit their website.
Setlist (Partial): One Less Reason, To the Devil for a Dime, A Quitter Never Wins, The Next Miss Wrong, Cut You Loose (Buddy Guy), Double Eyed Whammy, I Can’t Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters), Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon), ‘Solo Acoustic Song,’ 28 Days, Slow Train to Hell, Pawnbroker
On Sunday, February 6, Tom Rush made his way down from Vermont to Saratoga Springs to perform at Caffe Lena with Matt Nakoa. The relatively warm weather brought out a packed crowd for the duo’s first of two shows on Sunday. Tom took the stage by himself to open the show with “Best of a Bad Situation’, and he set the tone for what was to come. The show was filled with masterful finger-picking on guitar, witty lyrics, and personal storytelling. And all of that was seamlessly accompanied by Matt Nakoa on the piano.
Rush and Nakoa were operating at exactly the same wavelength all night long. Intricate finger-picking on guitar was combined with beautifully delicate runs on piano. Neither musician stepped on the other’s toes, instead their parts danced in perfect unison. This chemistry was nothing new though, as was pointed out by Tom when he told a story about one of their first shows together. In the story, Tom and Matt arrived at a venue much later than anticipated, and were left with no time to rehearse. Despite this, Matt took the stage and accompanied Tom as though he had been playing his songs for years.
After a few songs, including covers of songs by Joni Mitchell and Sleepy John Estes, Tom left the stage while Matt took over for a few songs by himself. The lefty picked up a guitar and showcased his ability to play and sing beyond his role on piano. Nakoa, standing somewhere well above 6’3″, was exceptionally dexterous, fretting chords using all five fingers with total ease, a task which would cripple most guitarists.
Shortly after leaving the stage, Tom returned and performed his “big hit on YouTube” as he put it: ‘Remember Song.’ As the set drew to a close, the energy rose while Tom and Matt lost themselves in the music. The duo would end the night with songs including ‘Train Song’ by Murray Mclauchlan and Rush’s ‘River Song.’ ‘River Song’ was played as a part of the show’s encore, an encore which was not preceded by a stage exit. Only when you have been performing over the span of seven decades like Tom Rush has, do you get to decide whether or not an encore break is necessary. As the encore drew to a close, and the musicians’ final notes rang out, the crowd rose to their feet to applaud in a standing ovation.
Both Tom and Matt will be traveling the country and performing live in the coming months. You can find Tom’s upcoming shows, accompanied by Matt, on his website here. For Matt’s solo shows, you can find them listed on his own site. The two will be all over the Northeast mostly, with a two show trip out west to California. Be sure to check out their websites to stay up-to-date on all their happenings. And for future shows at Caffe Lena, check out the their website.
Nora Brown is not a regular teenager. The 16-year-old is quickly rising to stardom using her talent of one unorthodox instrument: the banjo. “It’s kind of a unique instrument compared to other stringed instruments,” she says in an interview with Brooklyn Magazine, “it has a very unique sound that I was drawn to.
Nora Brown
Unlike most teenagers her age, Brown finds musical enjoyment in traditional bluegrass music and her musicianship on the banjo pays homage to the greats before her. Moreover, the Brooklyn native was mentored by the late New York native and legendary Renaissance man John Cohen, and his mentorship shines through on the rising talent’s strings.
In her swift rise through the world of bluegrass, Brown has already collected a considerable amount of accolades. Her 2019 debut album, Cinnamon Tree, peaked at #7 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. Moreover, her second record, Sidetrack My Engine, was released last year and debuted at #6 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. Amazingly, the record was recorded in an underground brick arched cave under Brooklyn on an Ampex tape machine. The 16-year-old also has a Tiny Desk Concert on NPR Music, which is linked below.
The rising bluegrass talent has an exciting career ahead of her. She will be playing at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, Feb 12th from 8 PM to 10 PM. Tickets are available here.
The Mike Block Trio is back again for their first tour of 2022 and they plan to play at Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, on February 11th. This American Roots group recorded an album last month and have lots of new tunes to share.
Mike Block Trio Press Photo
The trio consists of Joe K. Walsh (mandolin/vocals), Zachariah Hickman (bass/vocals), and led by Mike Block (cello/vocals), they are a supergroup of unique and virtuosic players. Using their American roots music with contemporary and international influences, they bring a personal perspective to their acoustic music. For example, all members of the band are heavily experienced in music and have brought an equally professional perspective their songs. Their music is artfully compoed and pleasant to listen to.
Mike Block Trio Press Photos
Mike Block is a pioneering cello player, singer, composer, and educator. He is committed to inspiring individuals and connecting with individuals across communities. Using his patented design, The Block Strap, Mike was the first standing cellist to perform at Carnegie Hall. Touring extensively throughout the world, he has been featured in shows as a cellist and vocal soloist. Likewise, he has contributed arrangements and compositions, and even earned a Grammy Award in 2017 for the album, “Sing Me Home.” The NY Times characterized the performance as, “Breathless … Half dance, half dare.”
Joe K. Walsh is a Bluegrass mandolin player and singer known for his work with the legendary Gibson Brothers band. Furthermore, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has named The Gibson Brothers Band winner of awards for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Song of the Year. After being the first mandolinist to graduate from the Berklee College of Music on the mandolin, Joe returned to Berklee in 2011 as both a mandolin instructor and as a Managing Director of the “American Roots Music Program.”
Mike Block Trio Press Photos
Zachariah Hickman is a double bassist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based out of Boston, MA. In addition, he received his formal training in jazz performance and composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Similarly, as a producer, Zachariah as made records with many talented singers including Rose Cousins (for which he won a Canadian JUNO award), Mark Erelli, Laura Cortese, Miss Tess, and his own bluegrass band Barnstar. He has even made Television appearances including five David Letterman appearances, Conan O’brien, Ellen Degeneres, and Late Night with Jools Holland for the BBC.
The Mike Block Trio has also collaborated with musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, a popular American cellist. Mike is a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble (SRE), having joined in 2005 while a student at The Juilliard School.
Mike Block Trio are working alongside the finest venues to do everything they can to make sure it’s safe for their fans to go out to their upcoming shows. As a result of these safety precautions, all shows will require masks and proof of vaccination. Tour dates and more info can be found on their website. Tickets to the Caffe Lena show can be found here.
This past Friday, Chris Pierce stopped by Caffe Lena and put on a passionate show for a small, but excited Saratoga crowd. The singer/songwriter recently released his latest album titled ‘American Silence,’ from which he performed a number of songs. Chris opened his set with the title track of his new album, and this set the tone for the evening. He sang soulfully, shared personal stories, and welcomed the crowd in to his world for over an hour and a half.
Chris also played the song ‘It’s Been Burning For a While.’ The song perfectly highlights his abilities as a musician and a lyricist. Chris put his vocal control on display all night, ranging from pained whispers to powerful roars. Chris even told a story of a childhood vocal coach who would, kindly, hit students in the stomach while attempting to hold out a note. The emotion and tone of his voice were allowed to breath all night, as Chris accompanied his voice only with his guitar, and on occasion a harmonica.
Chris Pierce heads to the West Coast next, and you can see all his future tour dates on his website.
Setlist: American Silence, The Bridge of John, Chain Gang Fourth of July, Sound All the Bells, Static Trampoline, Let Me Be Your Sunshine, Young Black and Beautiful, We Can Always Come Back to This, Stand By Me (Ben E. King), Are Your Beautiful, Invisible People, Residential School, It’s Been Burning for a While, Call it a Day
On Saturday, January 15, The Campbell Brothers played a high energy set for a small Caffe Lena crowd that braved the elements to make it out. The self-described church music group rocked Caffe Lena with their unique style that combined funk, soul, gospel, folk, and everything in between. The Campbell Brothers’ energy was contagious and the small cold crowd helped sing along to their entire hour and fifteen minute set.
To get a real sense of what The Campbell Brothers’ music is all about by listening, check out this clip of “Morning Train” from 2011.
The Campbell Brothers’ set included “Morning Train” and a number of other energetic tunes including “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “Hell No,” “Heaven Yes,” and “Jump for Joy”. This clip of “Morning Train,” though, is a perfect representation of the tone, mood, and level of musicianship present at the show on Saturday night.
Whether it was Phillip’s touch on guitar, Denise’s powerful vocals, or Chuck’s superb control on the pedal steel, The group hit notes that anyone can enjoy. Their simple hooks made it easy for the crowd to learn the lyrics and sing along with Denise throughout the night.
There is no substitute for witnessing their music performed live in person, and it is an experience that music lovers will crave again and again. So the next time The Campbell Brothers morning train rolls into your town, the only question you need to ask yourself is, “how many tickets am I buying?” Also, be sure to check them out on Facebook.
Albany’s Jim Gaudet is a folksinger, but mostly he’s a straight forward story teller, whether singing about a baseball hero, a favorite soup or a childhood love. With the Railroad Boys, Gaudet will release Hillbilly Rock n’ Roll on Saturday, January 15 with a performance at the Madison Theater in Albany.
The first single from the album, “New Girl Now,” tells a story that brings hope, for regardless of how dark and hopeless things may seem, things can change just as quickly for the better.
The journey for Gaudet began around 1988 when he went to open mics at Caffe Lena and Albany’s Eight Step Coffeehouse. Soon, covers made way for originals, among them, “The Basement of Willett Street” paying tribute to the latter’s stage crew. In time, Gaudet has become a regional favorite with a refreshing sound that resonates with listeners the first time they hear them.
Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys combine together for a superb harmony in their vocals and pure musicianship throughout, leading to an up-tempo experience. The band features Jim Gaudet (guitar), Bobby Ristau (bass), Sten Isachsen (mandolin), Sara Milonovich (fiddle) and Tucker Callander (fiddle).
Their unique brand of “Hillbilly Rock and Roll” has a way that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time into a Texas roadhouse.
I feel that I have not succeeded if I walk off the stage and we haven’t connected. I love playing the songs and I love that it is my music that we are playing.
Jim Gaudet
The band has performed at the bluegrass festivals across the country, including Wintergrass (Seattle), High Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Colorado) and Music City Roots (Nashville) as well as 6 appearances at Grey Fox.
Stay up to date with Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys via their Website and Facebook.
Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys Winter 2022 Dates
1/09/2022 Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House Club (FREE) 1/15/2022 Albany, NY – Madison Theater (Album release show) 2/07/2022 Albany, NY – McGeary’s Irish Pub (FREE) 2/20/2022 Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House Club (FREE) 3/05/2022 Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena 3/07/2022 Albany, NY – McGeary’s Irish Pub (FREE)
