Caffè Lena @ SPAC

The Clements Brothers

The Clements Brothers are George and Charles Clements, identical twins from New England. They’ve been playing and writing music together for as long as they can remember. With roots, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and classical influences, George and Charles aim to capture their singer-songwriter sensibilities in a unique blended voice, at once enthralling and intimate, groovy and serene, filled with vocal harmonies, instrumental virtuosity, and a genuine love of song.

Amythyst Kiah

Before earning a Grammy nomination for her work with the all-female folk supergroup Our Native Daughters, Amythyst Kiah had already built a substantial career as a solo artist in the Americana and roots music arena. A versatile songwriter and deeply soulful singer, Kiah’s music drifts easily between old-time folk, blues, country, and more contemporary strains of R&B and alt-rock.

Raised in Chattanooga, TN, Kiah began playing guitar in high school, taking influence from her parents’ diverse musical tastes as well as the alt-rock she heard on MTV. After coming out as gay during her teenage years, she struggled to find acceptance and took solace in her creative pursuits. Her shift toward roots music began in college when she enrolled in a bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University where she also picked up the banjo. With her powerhouse voice and rich amalgam of roots-related styles, she learned to command an audience and became a festival favorite both in the U.S. and the U.K. In 2016, she released Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass. When the opportunity to collaborate with a group of other likeminded women of color in the roots music scene arrived, she jumped on board. Spearheaded by Rhiannon Giddens and featuring Kiah, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla, Our Native Daughters’ debut album boldly took on themes of American history and cultural identity from slavery and racism to sexism and civil rights. Released in 2019 by Smithsonian Folkways, Songs of Our Native Daughters was led by Kiah’s fiery Black identity missive “Black Myself” which was nominated for a Grammy Award and earned Song of the Year honors at the Folk Alliance International Awards. With her profile on the rise, she teamed up with producer Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Amos Lee, Andrew Bird) to record her second album, Wary + Strange, pairing Kiah’s gritty alt rock influences with folk, Americana, and blues and featured a rearranged version of “Black Myself.”

Soggy Po’ Boys

“Devoted to the culture of The Big Easy, the Soggy Po’ Boys seem genuine in their ambition to spread the word about jazz New Orleans style, and they’re creating an accessible and fun way into this world.” (London Jazz News) You’ll hear the heavy influence of the NOLA sound across the band and in the stories told by their original tunes, in addition to traditional Caribbean tunes, Meters funk, soul, and brass band/street beat music. “It all adds up to a party you can bring with you when you want to treat your friends to a real good time.” (Ben Schenck, musician)

Los Sugar Kings

Boston-based quartet, Los Sugar Kings, are known for their dynamic live performances, rich harmonies, intense musicianship and ability to transcend genres with an authenticity rarely heard. In their world, respect is paid to the forefathers and traditions of Afro-Cuban Son, Salsa and Rumba-Flamenca but Sugar Kings (named after a Cuban baseball team) also actively draw on influences from nearly every continent in their unique roots-rock-reggae repertoire. All are highly accomplished on their instruments, however the true magic of Sugar Kings is how these four individuals come together to put on a performance worthy of any festival, party, club or concert hall. It’s impossible for a party to stop from breaking out, wherever Sugar Kings perform.

Upstate

Indie-folk band Upstate thrives on weaving a tapestry of harmonious melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Formed in Woodstock, NY, this collective of musicians brings together a diverse range of influences from folk, bluegrass, jazz, and soul. Their honest and passionate songwriting resonates with listeners, evoking a sense of nostalgia and vulnerability. Each band member contributes their unique voice and musical prowess, resulting in rich harmonies and stellar instrumentation that blend together effortlessly.