Event

1980s Decade Concert

In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, Caffe Lena is presenting a five-part
Decade Concert Series. Tonight we mark the 1980s with Mary McCaslin and
Garent Rogers. //
Mary McCaslin emerged onto the folk scene in the 1970s with a new ballad
style that made her one of the top folk artists of the decade. Working
totally outside of the Nashville sphere, singing of prairies and the Old
West in almost mythic terms, her own audience was confined to the folk
circuit, yet her unique style paved the way for country-folk-pop stars such
as Nanci Griffith and Mary-Chapin Carpenter. Mary was an honored name on the Caffe Lena roster in both the 70s and 80s, performing frequently with her
husband Jim Ringer, and later on her own. // Mary picked Canadian singer-songwriter Garnet Rogers to
partner with her for this special celebration.
After years of working with his brother, Stan Rogers, Garnet's first solo
album was released in 1984 and was followed by another album every two years
into the 1990s. He sings in cinematic detail about people who are not
obvious heroes, carrying his audience from song to song with memorable
stories and quips. With his "smooth, dark baritone" (Washington Post), his
incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet continues to be
an audience favorite at Caffe Lena and other great stages across North
America.