Caffe Lena

See schedule ocaffe Lena works according to the principle that music is an antidote to division and a path to health. To that end more than 500 headline concerts & community events were held in 2023 including two free-to-the-public festival events (sing in the streets in may & Caffe Lena at spac in october). In 2023, Caffe Lena continued expanding what a small music venue can mean to our community through innovative programming that reflects folk music values and goes beyond presenting concerts. Caffe Lena on the road, truesongs, folk club kids & the little folks series, the creative community health clinic, the school of music and our nine monthly open stage events ensure that our artistic programming is entwined with the real life of our community. Our hope is that people will feel heard, included, understood, honored, and empowered to participate in civic life. A brief overview of these programs is found below.caffe Lena on the road: healing music for those who need it most. Our free "on the road" program delivers live music by nationally touring headline artists direct to people who would otherwise not have access. These concerts happen in nursing homes, addiction treatment centers, soup kitchens, senior meal sites, youth shelters, as well as children's museums and area schools. Our growing network covers albany, fulton, saratoga, scoharie, warren and Washington counties. The on the road program expanded to visit 43 sites across 6 counties in 2023.true songs: the annual capstone of our community outreach is truesongs. This annual show spotlights the work of saratoga, warren and Washington county nonprofits by pairing a client telling their true story with a songwriter who helps convey the emotional heart of the experience. With stories of resilience and kindness, truesongs demonstrates how both the arts and social services contribute to a healthy, whole community. Our 2023 truesongs program saw songs and stories about a family farm in a developing community being preserved for agriculture; a veteran getting the support she needs to regain her health and get off the streets; a man losing his sight but gaining a new outlet for his lifelong habit of helping others; a man is raised on a schuylerville farm, and finding a way to preserve the history of a changing community; a young girl transcending autism barriers with the help of horses.folk club kids & little folks series: these free concerts show young children how real music is made. Folk club kids is akin to a library story hour, but with a folk music trio. Pre-schoolers come with caregivers to twirl and bounce to fiddle and banjo songs. They blossom as the music stirs them. The monthly little folks matinees give families a chance to enjoy a kid-friendly concert that appeals to all ages. We market these activities through local social service agencies to make sure all families, regardless of income, get a chance to enjoy live music.creative community health clinic: 2023 brought our community the 2nd annual free health clinic offered to musicians, artists & other creatives. This clinic connects under/uninsured musicians and other artists with professional health and wellness screenings in our performance space, a setting that is welcoming and familiar for creatives. This partnership between the saratoga hospital and Caffe Lena continues to grow and find new ways to serve our creative community.caffe Lena school of music: our unique music lessons give children and seniors the opportunity to sing and play stringed instruments in small, friendly groups. Our teaching methods imitate the way folk music has been passed down for countless generations. Students watch and listen closely to their teachers and each other, and they focus on making the whole group sound good. These are valuable skills for music, for school, and for life in the wider world. Since its inception the school of music program has expanded to include group lessons, individual lessons, jams and recitals for youth & seniors alike. 2023 saw a steady flow of 400+ students utilizing Caffe Lena during the daytime hours, further adding to the venue's vitality and continuing the folk traditions the space was created to honor.open stage: unlike bars that use open mics to drive beer sales, Caffe Lena provides a wholesome, all-ages listening room. Whether the participant is developing professional performance skills or simply pursuing an outlet for feelings and ideas, the benefits are palpable. Our weekly music open mic has been recognized as the best in the capital region numerous times throughout the last 3 decades. Additionally, we offer separate monthly open stage events for poetry, storytelling and a bluegrass jam. A donation at the door is voluntary, and many are admitted every week who pay nothing.