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The Northeast International Folks Alliance Conference–a gathering of folk artists, presenters, industry folks, and fans–is set to take place in Albany this November. Following the conference, we are inviting everyone up the road to Caffè Lena for an after party at our historic venue! This show will feature three artists that Caffè Lena has connected with at NERFA over the years, each performing a 30 minute set of original music. Conference attendees are invited to finish what is sure to be an incredible weekend of music with one final gathering here in our listening room. And, if you are not attending the conference but still want to hear some up and coming folk artists you're in luck! We will have a limited amount of seats available to the general public. Grab 'em while you can!
ARTIST BIOS
Great Aunt
Great Aunt is the award-winning Australian duo of Megan Bird and Chelsea Allen, whose soaring harmonies and unusual instrumental palette draw from folk, country and roots while folding in influences from punk, jazz, soul and rock. Named Duo of the Year at the 2024 Australian Folk Music Awards, they have toured extensively in the U.S. as well as Australia, bringing warmth, wit and an unmistakable chemistry to their live performances. Their songs can be joyful, vulnerable and slyly funny, creating a sound that feels rooted in tradition without being confined by it.
Carolyn Shapiro
Southern Adirondacks banjo player and songwriter Carolyn Shapiro pairs hypnotic old-time picking with a commanding voice and songs that explore the complicated business of being human. A two-time Folk Artist of the Year for New York’s Capital Region, Carolyn actually found her voice right here at Caffè Lena, honing her craft at our weekly Open Mic before emerging as a standout on the regional folk scene. Her music is deeply rooted in tradition while pushing the banjo into fresh territory, delivered with warmth, vulnerability and plenty of soul.
Sweet Petunia
Boston duo Sweet Petunia brings together the lightning-fast playing and razor-sharp harmonies of Mairead Guy and Maddy Simpson, with one foot planted in traditional folk and the other firmly in Boston’s punk and DIY scene. Twice nominated for a Boston Music Award for Best Folk Act, the duo released their debut full-length album, Foggy Mountain Mental Breakdown, on Righteous Babe Records in 2026, mixing old-time and bluegrass roots with a decidedly contemporary edge. Unapologetically queer, sometimes tender and sometimes gloriously loud, Sweet Petunia is interested not simply in preserving folk music, but in helping it evolve.
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47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY, United States, New York 12866
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