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Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song
Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song

In May of 1960, Lena and Bill Spencer opened a little coffee shop folk music space in an upstairs loft on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs.  Ever since, the venue known as Caffe Lena has become synonymous with music discovery and folk music.

As we celebrate the 60 years of vibrant history, we enlisted the help of current executive director, Sarah Craig. She pulled together a list of significant artists who have played in every year of the Caffe's existence, and then added a list of 60 "new" discoveries that made some of their initial in-roads at the Caffe.

Listen Thursday nights at 6pm as we showcase a song from one of the years (starting with 1960 and stepping through until we get to 2020). The we play a song by one of the new discovery artists of recent years, including some who have only recently come on the scene.

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  • Remember Suzanne Vega’s song “Luka?” It provided inspiration for a new name. And an icon with a career that spans over 60 years.This is episode 50 of…
  • Greek mythology, and musicals share the stage.This is episode 49 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for…
  • A champion of world music, and a Soviet-era Georgian presents a world view of jazz in his performances.This is episode 48 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song.…
  • A musical environmentalist striving for global justice, and a songwriter impresses Joan Baez.This is episode 47 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you…
  • Open mic night in Ellicott City, MD creates a new group, and a band claims playing the most number of shows in 24 hours.This is episode 46 of Caffe Lena:…
  • Driving their tour van until it drops, a married musician couple keeps it going, and another musical couple – kindred spirits – met at a bluegrass…
  • A Canadian singer-songwriter moves to China and a band from upstate New York with an unusual name.This is episode 44 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song.…
  • Upstate New York brothers make music that is “too retro,” and a barefoot movement takes to the stage, 5,000 miles away.This is episode 43 of Caffe Lena:…
  • Two artists who bring nature to life in music, one from the Canadian Maritimes, and one from the Local 518.This is episode 42 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of…
  • A husband and wife travel more than a million miles, and a family band from Sweden both made there way to Caffe Lena.This is episode 41 of Caffe Lena: 60…