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The Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society

The Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society [SABS] has been started in Saratoga Springs, NY by local blues aficionados and performers Phil Drum, Ray Giguere and Dave Scheffel. The trio met at Caffé Lena's open mic several years ago. They share a love for blues of all kinds, and especially the "old-school" acoustic blues of the early- to mid-20th Century. For over 100 years acoustic blues music has been a taproot for virtually all American music including Jazz, R&B, Rock, and Country music. The great acoustic blues singers, songwriters and guitarists have left a recorded legacy that is priceless, as exemplified in recordings by such blues greats as Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Rev. Gary Davis, and Charley Patton. Saratoga Springs, NY has a solid tradition of acoustic blues performance, particularly as it is the location of Caffé Lena, where great blues artists have performed since 1960.

The Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society, or SABS, is a not-for-profit organization (certification pending) that will be supported by memberships and donations. The mission of SABS is to promote the performance, enjoyment and knowledge of acoustic blues music in the Saratoga Springs/Capital region. This summer, SABS will be kicking off this effort by putting together a Saratoga Acoustic Blues Celebration, which will involve two events scheduled for summer in 2008.

The first event will take place on July 25-26 at Stockade Imports, a Saratoga business specializing in handmade oriental rugs and located in the old firehouse at 543 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. This event will be taking place during the opening weekend of the Saratoga 2008 racing season, adding a blues flavor to the many events and festivities that make Saratoga Springs a great destination during the racing season. The opening weekend event will include two nights of acoustic blues by several well-known local blues performers. Along with the SABS founders, performers participating on Friday, July 25 will include Mark Tolstrup, Tom Evans, Bill Ackerbauer, John Sciolino, Steve Mintzer, and Moonlight Drive; while on Saturday, July 26 the celebration will include Rick & Sharon Bolton, Thomasina Winslow, Michael Eck, Kyle Miller, Ray Pashoukos, and Bluesology. For information about this event call 583-2044.

The second Celebration event will take place on Tuesday, August 5th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm as the opener for this year's August concert series in Saratoga's Congress Park. The concert will feature the wonderful acoustic blues guitarist, Joan Crane, accompanied by bassist Steve Feinbloom. Joan is a fingerstyle blues guitar player of the first order and one of the few women on the music scene playing the ragtime blues of the 20s and 30s in the style of Blind Blake and Rev. Gary Davis. Joan has mastered the art of the blues genre with a clean, highly sophisticated delivery that compels her audiences to a deep appreciation of this uniquely American music. And Joan does so with rich humor and a powerful stage presence that both entertains and educates. As one reviewer remarked about Joan’s work, "It’s as real and haunting as Robert Johnson’s ‘Love In Vain‘…”. Joan Crane has played throughout the country at a variety of major folk and blues venues and festivals, including the Boston Riverbank Festival where she was winner of the Folk Competition. She placed third in the statewide Indiana Blues Competition, in which she was the only female, and the only solo acoustic player. Joan has roots in Saratoga Springs, where she has been a regular featured performer at Caffé Lena. Joan Crane’s concert will be co-sponsored by the city of Saratoga Springs, Stockade Imports, and Saratoga Guitar, and will be coordinated through the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.For more information call 587-3241.

Attendance at this summer’s Celebration events will be free to the public. Visit SABS on the web: Myspace.com/SaratogaAcousticBluesSociety