PREVIEW: Sydney Worthley prepares for captivating headline performance at Caffè Lena
07/31 @ Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs
Photo by Kiki Vassilakis
After charming the crowd at Caffè Lena’s Lena Go Round series in June, Albany-based singer-songwriter Sydney Worthley was asked to take the stage again as part of Overit Home Grown Sessions.
This Thursday, Worthley will put on a truly special set; half of the evening’s songs will be unreleased material, and the other half will feature previously released original songs.
Worthley said she isn’t taking the occasion lightly. While she enjoys performing alongside other talented local musicians, she’s excited to bask in a spotlight of her own at the iconic venue (even if a side of imposter syndrome may come with it).
“It’s a listening room, so having the full attention of people that are there to hear my music just means so much. I’m really going to take that time to try and connect with people and really share my experiences with them,” Worthley said.
The artist is looking forward to talking about the meaning behind her songs, while also having the crowd’s attention so tightly grasped within the walls of a venue that she feels lends itself naturally to lyricism. The evening’s arrangement will offer an intimate, stripped-down version of her songs with help from violinist Jess Bowen, Julia Alsarraf on bass and vocals, and Andy Arnold on guitar.
It Was Nice While It Lasted is Worthley’s latest album, released last July. Having written the record’s 12 tracks in the midst of the pandemic, she admits that her 2020 self wouldn’t have thought they would ever make it out of her bedroom. She admires the unique closeness that Caffè Lena nurtures and allows her to open up to audiences in such a way.
“The fact that I’m willing to talk about these songs and play them from this really vulnerable place [from] where I first wrote them is going to be very cool. The ones that I wrote in 2020 have really evolved since then and have taken on a new light with the full band. Being able to strip it back down is going to feel more like just playing in my bedroom.”
“Homegrown” is truly what the Albany-native is, and she’s delighted to showcase her talent for the community–especially since a worldwide shutdown originally had her questioning if she could ever dust off her musical dreams from the shelves in her bedroom.
“The Overit Home Grown is really special because it’s giving a platform to local musicians who had to put their lives and dreams on pause for [the pandemic],” Worthley says. “I think giving local music a chance and going to see live music is a really big deal, and I hope people will take that into consideration and do it more.”
To purchase tickets for Sydney Worthley’s Overit Home Grown Sessions performance, visit eventbrite.com/e/oversydnit-home-grown-sessions-ey-worthley-tickets. Thursday, July 31 from 7:00-9:00 pm at Caffè Lena (47 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs)
