Transporting a harpsichord across a continent by train, and spending Canadian Tire money on making an album.

This is episode 35 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature.

Terra Spencer felt the need to stay connected to her fanbase while in isolation in Nova Scotia. She may not have been the first, and certainly not the only one to switch over to "livestream" activity to try to replace the live concert setting, but she sure went at least one step further. Her weekly hang with her fans became "Blanket Fort Tonight."

Learn about her story, her new song "Raining On a Saturday," and more.

Lynne Hanson has used her time in isolation to create, and to help her husband create.  She's known as the Queen of Americana in Canada.  Her husband is a contractor by day, but also creates large scale metal sculptures - like the Crowvid-19.  Learn about Crowvid, and Lynne's new record called "Just Words."

Proceeds from the Crowvid-19 sculpture installation have been helping the Ottawa Foodbank.

They bill themselves as the modern day Sonny and Cher (but they say they are both Cher).

Greg and Brendan met on Tinder, and found a common thread in their lives that was in music.  Their friendship and love blossomed as they formed a band - Fab the Duo.

Learn their story and about their love of music, and all about their new EP, "Our Love is Resistance."

When I first heard Rachel Ana Dobken's album, "When It Happens To You," I knew I had to find a way - even in a pandemic - to have a conversation with her.  Her music is fascinating. Her story, while only getting started, is also fascinating.

Husband and wife Local 518 duo, In The Valley, Katie and James met at Houghton College in western New York. They found common ground in music and began a friendship that would result in love and marriage. We hear about their story of how they met, and about their songs.

So far, the songs we've heard from In the Valley have us craving more.

Aubrie Sellers grew up around country music, daughter of two famed country stars - Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers.

While stuck at home, and not able to be out on tour promoting her new album, "Far From Home, she took a few moments to talk about her new record, and tell us about how her family has been making masks and other things to help out the community.  And we discuss "garage country," the genre Aubrie has brilliantlly created to help her stand out in the crowded field.

We met Alice Howe at a Folk music conference.  We were immediately swept up by her amazing voice and songs.  Plus, she introduced us to the amazing bass player, Freebo, who played with Bonnie Raitt back in the day.

Here new full-length record is "Visions." We discuss that, music, Freebo, and making a cool video.

We know Mike Mattison for his work with Derek Trucks and with Tedeschi Trucks, and his own band Scrapomatic.  Mike's second solo album, "Afterglow," draws on his influences - both musical and literary.

Mike and I talk about his growing up in Minneapolis, his musical influences, and the songs and stories that make up "Afterglow."