Saratoga Springs in late July already has its own energy — racing season is kicking in, the city is filling up, and there is a lot competing for your attention on any given Friday night. This one is worth rearranging your evening for. Griffin House plays Caffè Lena on July 24 — doors at 7:30, show at 8:00 — in a room that holds 110 people. In a space this size, a songwriter this good is a completely different experience than a festival stage.
About Griffin House
House is Nashville-based with Midwestern roots and more than 20 years of touring behind him. He taught himself guitar and songwriting drawing on Bruce Springsteen, Woody Guthrie, and the Mermaid Avenue recordings by Wilco and Billy Bragg — and that combination comes through in everything he writes. He turned down a golf scholarship to Ohio University to study music at Miami University. That detail alone tells you what kind of person you are dealing with.
His 2009 underground hit “The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind” put him on the national map after a Late Night with Craig Ferguson appearance, but he had already spent years building a real following opening for John Mellencamp and The Cranberries. Flying Upside Down was recorded with members of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. His latest album, Surrender to Win, came out in February 2026. American Songwriter said it plainly: “If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further.”
The Venue
Caffè Lena is at 47 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs — a folk club and listening room with a capacity of 110. It is built for exactly this kind of show: a solo songwriter, a quiet room, and an audience that actually listens. The Capital Region has bigger venues, but not many better ones for a night like this.
Tickets & Pricing
General admission is $32.53. Members pay $29.28; children and students pay $16.27. All prices are inclusive of fees. A $5 live stream is also available via Caffè Lena TV, with 100% of ticket revenue going directly to the artist. Get tickets at caffelena.org.