Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy-winning South African vocal ensemble whose isicathamiya harmonies have captivated the world for over six decades, performs at Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs on April 3, 2026.
Founded by Joseph Shabalala in the early 1960s in the town of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, the group rose to international prominence through their collaboration with Paul Simon on the landmark 1986 album Graceland. But to frame them solely through that partnership would be to diminish an artistic legacy that runs far deeper. Ladysmith Black Mambazo are custodians of isicathamiya — a vocal tradition born in the mines and hostels of apartheid-era South Africa.
Multiple Grammy Awards and a catalog spanning dozens of albums have cemented their status as one of the most important vocal groups in the world. Their sound — interlocking harmonies that seem to breathe as a single organism — is immediately recognizable and endlessly moving.
Caffè Lena, America’s longest continuously operating coffeehouse, has hosted legends from every folk and roots tradition since 1960. Experiencing Ladysmith Black Mambazo in this storied, intimate room is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime convergence that defines what live music can be.
Visit Caffè Lena for tickets and information.