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 Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for providing the list of artists and songs for the feature. Kevin Barry Moore was born in Ireland in 1955. Luka Bloom got his start in the United States in 1987 when Kevin Barry Moore started performing using a stage name. He took the name Luka from the Suzanne Vega song and Bloom

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 the feature. Anais Mitchell is fascinated with the Greek myth of Eurydice and the love between the title character and Orpheus. It has taken her on a journey across mediums - one song led to a concept album called Hadestown which led to a stage production in Canada and London before ending up on Broadway. She was just named one of the 100

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. Thank you to Sarah for providing the list of songs and artists for the feature. David Lindley has long been a champion of world music . His performances incorporate instruments and styles from Africa, Hawaii, Turkey and Ireland. In 1991, he and his guitarist went to Madagascar and recorded indigenous Malagasy music, which had a major impact

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 to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Eliza Gilkyson is an active member of the Austin music and political community. She participates in environmental groups and is the co-founder of an Austin-based resource center that promotes political activism and community involvement around issues of race, patriarchy and global

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 : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for this list of songs and artists for the feature. The members of We’re About 9 met at an open mike night at the Java House in Ellicott City, MD where they quickly identified a chemistry they shared and started singing on each other’s songs. They came up with the name on the spot when they needed a name

Driving their tour van until it drops , a married musician couple keeps it going, and another musical couple – kindred spirits – met at a bluegrass festival. This is episode 45 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart met in 1992, married a year later and have been touring ever since. For the past 12 years, they have been touring in a 1999 Chevy Suburban that they bought new with 17 miles from a test-drive

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 . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for selecting the artists and songs for the feature. Ember Swift is a Canadian singer songwriter who began writing songs when she was 9 and performing when she was 10. She fell in love with the culture in China when visiting and moved to Beijing the following year. She continues to split her time between Toronto

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: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for this list of artists and songs for the feature. The Gibson Brothers , Leigh and Eric, were offered a major record deal in Nashville when they were in their 20’s. They were told at the last minute that they were too “retro” for modern country music. That didn’t stop them from making music, though, and

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 Song . Thank you to Sarah from the Caffe for providing this list of songs and artists. Hailing from Rexford, Adirondack folk singer Roy Hurd has developed two Arts in Education programs for elementary schools, one has given young people a chance to experience songwriting first hand and the other has used storytelling, music and woodland skills

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 Years of Song . Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for this feature. The Kennedys , husband and wife duo Pete and Maura Kennedy, have well over a million miles of roadwork under their collective belt. They also have been on Broadway, where they are regular cast members of Theater Within’s annual tribute to John