Happy November, people!
I’m kind of a nerd about holidays. I make them pretty personal and try to bring the spirit of the each holiday into my life for weeks before. Thanksgiving is no exception. I have plenty to be thankful for this year, and I think that musicians on Long Island have plenty to be thankful for, too. So, without further ado, here are two acoustic venues that I’m thankful for: The Cup and The Spoon.
I’m pairing these together, though they’re under different ownership and in different towns, because they’ve got plenty of great things in common. They’re cafes that are family friendly, and great places to go to hear live music if you’re under 21. They have affordable, delicious food. And both pay their musicians, which is something almost unheard of if you’re an acoustic musician on Long Island. Supporting musicians in this way comes back to you; every singer/songwriter I know has nice things to say about these venues and will recommend them to fellow musicians as well as family and friends.
The Cup
It is hard to talk about acoustic music on Long Island without bringing up The Cup. The Cup has been an acoustic hotspot for years. Its Wednesday open mic night has been going on for as long as I can remember, and is the place where a lot of people I know performed in front of a crowd for the first time.
Outside of the open mic, the Cup has live acoustic music on weekend nights starting around 9 and continuing until one or so. They’re located right across the street from the Wantagh train station, at 9268 Railroad Ave. Here’s a list of who’s playing there in November:
Fri 11/19: Graz ( http://www.myspace.com/dangrazianomusic )
Sat 11/20: Rupert Wates (http://www.rupertwates.com/shows.htm )
Fri 11/26: John Keebler* ( http://www.myspace.com/johnkeebler )
Fri 11/27: Jay Reilly ( http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomjreilly )
*Sidenote: John Keebler’s a freakin’ awesome blues player. You’ve got to hear this dude do Little Wing.
The Spoon
The Spoon is a cozy café in the heart of Lindenhurst Village. The Spoon also has a Wednesday open mic, a regular haunt of local acoustic artists. While The Cup is a major hangout for teens and young adults, The Spoon is truly an all-ages affair. Artists ranging from their teens to their late 70s perform at their open mic and on their weekend shows. It’s very hard to feel out of place at The Spoon.
The Spoon is as much a family café as it is a music venue, and they serve a variety of dinner and lunch items, amazing desserts, and serious coffee. Music usually starts around 7:30 pm on weekend nights. The Spoon is located at 125 S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst. Here’s what’s going on Thanksgiving weekend at Spoon:
Fri 11/26: Mike (Po Boy) Reinhardt and Ukelele Ed
Sat 11/27: Brandon O’Brian