On Wednesday, October 2, the long-running Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic series continues at the historic Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs with a featured performance from Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise followed by an open mic for poetry and spoken word.
MC/ Poet/ Songwriter Kuf Knotz and classically trained Harpist / Guitarist / Pianist / Vocalist Christine Elise have combined forces to create a new album. The unlikely pair connected and built the project with a similar vision, wanting to create positive, forward-thinking music driven by a strong message. Both individuals are intrinsically motivated to foster community growth through musical expression.
Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise offer motivational creative arts workshops and performances at various settings such as hospitals, schools and community centers. Their mission is to use the power of music, personal experience and empathetic relation to help individuals grow to meet their fullest potential.
Christine Elise has a strong background in music therapy having delivered music therapy services to children, adults, and seniors with developmental delays, special needs and those needing emotional support. Finding a passion for community music therapy, she has facilitated group sessions for professionals and clients in the USA, South Africa, Peru and Jamaica. She has presented at national and regional music therapy conferences, with a focus on her community music therapy work, as well as written three scholarly articles published by Music Therapy Perspectives.
This monthly event, hosted by Carol Graser, takes place on the first Wednesday of every month and includes an open mic reading as well as featured poets. Sign up for the open mic starts at 7:00 and readings start at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads two short poems (less than one page) or one longer poem. All styles of poetry are welcome. Admission is $5 general, free for students.
Before the open mic, at 6:00 p.m., there is a Poetry Discussion Group, sponsored by Saratoga Springs Public Library. This month the Poetry Discussion Group will look at and discuss a selection of poems from a renowned poet.
