Natasha's Cafe You Missed It Archive 2007
112 Esplanade, Lexington, Ky (859)259-2754

Yet More Things You May Have Missed 2006
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Mon. Jan. 8th @ 8pm Mecca Studio Student Dancers
Free

Fri. Jan. 12 @ 9pm Liam's Fancy
Beverly Buchanan has developed a bit of a cult following in recognition of her tasteful and lively renderings of some of the great oulde tunes from the west of Ireland, and her stylish accompaniment to Dan's singing is superb. She is recognized as one of the leading box players in the Midwest.

Dan Cummins has crafted his own unique style, reflecting a love and respect for his family's heritage along with a fervor to keep the party going. Dan is a rare singer. He might deliver a classic pub favorite in one breath - in the next he'll sing a song in the old style. He has successfully worked with some of the greatest Irish Trad players of his generation.

Together this graceful ensemble unlock the drive and passion of Irish music as played through the ages and in our own time.
Click Here For More Information on Liam's Fancy
$6 Cover

Sat. Jan. 13th @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
Click Here For More Information on Alma Gitana
$7 Cover

Wed. Jan. 17th @ 8pm Piano Wed
Featuring: Lew Bowling
Donation Accepted

Sat. Jan. 20th @ 7pm & 9:30pm The Bats
Vocalists Missy Johnston, Marilyn Robie, and Susan Thomas blend beautiful harmonies into entertaining and hilarious songs and patter. Melanie Johnson, veteran rock guitarist and songwriter, provides vocals and shy enthusiasm. Marianne Sherman adds earthy humor and a booming bass line. And three very brave men--Craig Cornwell on drums, Jim Gleason on guitar, and Harold Sherman on keyboards--fight for sexual equality as they back up these five feisty women.

Dinner Show @ 7:00pm Cocktail Show @ 9:30pm $8 cover.

BOX OFFICE HOURS Mon-Fri 11am to 4pm

Click Here For More Information on The Bats

Mon. Jan 22nd @ 9pm Jeff Tuohy
With influences as variant as Neil Simon, the Black Crowes, Springsteen and Sublime, Jeff Tuohy brings a powerfully diverse flavor to the rock n’ roll genre. Based in New York, NY, Tuohy will be making a stop at Natasha’s on his 2007 tour.

“Every so often an artist delivers a record that makes me stand up and salute! Jeff Tuohy’s 'Breaking Down The Silence' is one of those records.”
-Mark Radway, Triplearadio.com

"An arresting voice...("Breaking Down the Silence") is with me wherever I go. It's an addictive listen that I strongly recommend.”
-Pat Keating, Insite Magazine

Click Here For More Information on Jeff Tuhoy
$5 Cover

Wed. Jan. 24th @ 8pm Piano Wed
Featuring: Lew Bowling
Donation Accepted

Fri. Jan. 26th @ 9pm Trioshift
“Sporting a combined résumé featuring stints with heavyweights in jazz, blues and country - Martina McBride, Herbie Hancock, Koko Taylor, Jimmie Heath, Lorrie Morgan and Sugar Blue - guitarist John Cook, drummer Chuck Fields and bassist Tony Nagy bring a wide range of influences to their instrumental project Trioshift…{they}are unrepentant destroyers of stylistic boundaries…It’s a rare opportunity to hear a local jazz act so willing to push the envelope, and these guys have the chops to back up their impetuousness.”
-JACK SILVERMAN, ‘Nashville Scene’ music critic

The Nashville favorite will bring their unconfined style of jazz to our stage for their inaugural Natasha’s appearance. Reservations are recommended to catch this ‘trio’ of adventurous musicians.
More Information on Trioshift
$5 Cover

Sat. Jan. 27th @ 9pm Reel World String Band
Monumentally influenced by traditional and old-time music with a touch of country, swing, blues, and jazz, Reel World's soulful songwriting and instrumental virtuosity make for American roots music with a rare fire and authenticity. With Sue Massek on banjo, Bev Futrell on guitar and harmonica, Karen Jones on fiddle, Elise Melrood on piano, and Sharon Ruble on bass, the band brings together classic fiddling, bluegrass harmonies, and a keen eye for lyrical detail.
More Information on Reel World String Band
$7 Cover

Mon. Jan. 29th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

This Month: "Romance 101" featuring Buck P. Creacy. Just in time for a certain upcoming February holiday,

Buck P. Creacy is a humorist and a storyteller. But that description is inadequate for this funny man. Buck P. uses humor to make life better for his audience. At 14 while shining shoes at the barber shop, he realized he could shine more shoes if his customers were laughing. An “honest to God” humorist, Buck P. shares wit and wisdom with children and the international corporate world alike. He is never malicious though sharper than ever. Choosing to make his humor “safe” for any audience, Buck P. sees the world differently enough to make you laugh out loud.
$5 Cover

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
More Information about KSA
More Information about Buck P. Creacy

Fri. Feb. 2nd @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups. An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix. Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
More Information on Alma Gitana
$7 Cover

Sat. Feb. 3rd @ 12pm "Invisible Children" documentary screening
The San Diego based non-profit Invisible Children Inc. will be bringing its message of global responsibility to teenagers and adults alike with screenings of their 2003 documentary 'Invisible Children'. In addition to screenings around the nation, "Invisible Children" has been shown to the United Nations Association, at the Carter Center and at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Footage has also been shown on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and the National Geographic Channel, as well as featured in nearly every major newspaper in the country. On the 'Mid-Atlantic' leg of their 2007 World Tour, the group will open their week of Lexington screenings at the downtown branch of the public library before moving the film to each high school, several area churches, and finally closing down with a visit at Natasha's Café. The documentary, created by three USC film school graduates, is a screen exploration of the Northern Ugandan territories, where war has ravaged the land and destroyed the lives of its people, with particular focus on the 20 year conflict between their government and the Lord's Resistance Army. A complex conflict most modern Americans can only try and understand, this civil war is claiming the lives of thousands upon thousands of young children, as rebel forces have resorted to kidnapping kids from schools, homes and villages to train them to fight. Currently ninety percent of the LRA is of an adolescent age, most forcibly removed from their families. These 'invisible children' are forced to hide en masse to evade the terror of the rebel armies. This project is a huge national movement for peace and justice aimed at engaging the American public to take notice and action for the sake of these children and their families. What started as a small group of young people has amassed to include millions of Americans rallying together, a cause not to be underestimated.
More Information on "Invisible Children"
Free

Sat. Feb. 3rd @ 9pm Midlife Harmony
Acoustic rock trio, covering harmonious tunes from the 60's and 70’s, including favorites from the Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, the Zombies, Steely Dan, the Turtles, the Beach Boys, James Taylor, the Mammas & the Papas, and many more.
$5 Cover

Mon. Feb. 5th @ 8pm Mecca Monday
Student dancers from Mecca Live Studio perform.
Free

Fri. Feb. 9th @ 9pm Pale, Stout, & Amber
Drawing on Ireland and Scotland’s rich heritage of dance tunes, ballads, and slow airs, Pale, Stout & Amber captures this music in all of its austere beauty and savage soulfulness. The fiery drive of the fiddle and the Irish bouzouki’s haunting drone are the heart of their sound, although Robert’s expressive singing and Art’s expertise on a variety of other instruments are also among their high cards. Wherever they appear, they mix story and song with history and personal experience, taking listeners on a journey across the Atlantic and back to the wellspring of some of America’s most beloved and enduring traditional music.

“the top local pick for Irish and Celtic music”
Walter Tunis Lexington Herald-Leader music critic
More Information on Pale, Stout, & Amber
$5 Cover

Sat. Feb. 10th Natasha's Bistro "Day of Dance!"

3pm - 6pm Arts Showcase Weekend (sponsored by LexArts) Milonga at Natasha's
Argentine Tango dancers gather at Natasha's Cafe in Downtown Lexington. Everyone is welcome. Come to dance or to observe. Regular Argentine Tango classes are held at Artsplace and are sponsored by the Lexington Vintage Dance Society.
More Information on Arts Showcase Weekend
Free

9pm Mecca Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
More Information on Mecca
$5 Cover

Wed. Feb. 14th Special Valentine’s Day presentation of:
“Surprise Theatre” a night of love II: Cupid’s Revenge

Begin your romantic adventure this Valentine’s Day at Natasha’s Bistro, where you and your sweetheart will luxuriate in the flavors of a sumptuous four course dinner complemented by an amorous evening with the Balagula Theatre’s latest installment of their acclaimed “Surprise Theatre” series. Our dinner menu will feature a dessert tray of aphrodisiacal selections, and the most exquisite entrées and hors d’oeuvres you’ll find on any Valentine’s Day menu in Lexington.

Vegetarian and meat entrées will be available. Price includes entertainment, dinner and champagne. All other alcoholic beverages will incur an additional charge.
More Information on "Surprise Theatre"
Valentine's Menu
Seating 6pm-6:30pm
$45 per person / $85 per couple

Fri. Feb. 15th - Sat. Feb. 16th "Surprise Theatre"

The sequel to last year's smash hit "a night of love." Join us at the cafe for a slightly surreal take on love and affection. A night for all that love affects: the happy, the bitter, the hopeful, & the forlorn. "Surprise Theatre" has something for everyone.

 "...it is intimate, energetic, fun, meaningful, and even cheap...Surprise Theatre performances promise a theater experience like none you've ever seen, at only five dollars a ticket."
- Special to the Herald-Leader Candace Chaney

"...one of the most unusual theater experiences in Lexington.”
- Herald-Leader Culture Critic Rich Copley.

More Information on "Surprise Theatre"
Seating Begins @ 6pm
Tickets: $5
 

Get High on Fashion
Sale
February 15,16,17

20%-70% off Storewide

We are emerging into spring fashion season with new lines of reversible silk, casual linen, scarves, jewelry and other accessories, at sale prices of 20% to 70% off! New arrivals of Nepalese rainbow moonstone, Tibetan turquoise, coral and lapis inlay jewelry. All jewelry sale priced at 20% off. 50% to 70% off major designer label “Kusnadi”, 20% off all “By Deep Los Angeles” brand apparel, and 50% off all “Pretty” brand boots. Also, all Chinese shoes are sale priced at 20% off.

Sat. Feb. 17th @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers
The Johnson Brothers return to Natasha's to perform the best of the best hard rock Classics. (the real hard stuff no other band in Lexington attempts) Steely Dan! Elton John! Beatles! And anything else complex you can think of... If you haven't seen these guys live, tonight is the night!
More Information on The Johnson Brothers
a clip from Allman Brothers Night (Windows Media Player)
$8 Cover

Mon. Feb. 19th @ 8:30pm The Kruger Brothers
The Kruger Brothers from Switzerland have been performing professionally since 1973. Kruger Brothers performances are exciting, calming, entertaining and spontaneous all-in-one, exhibiting their sheer joy in playing music. Traditional American Folk and Bluegrass music would come closest to describing the bands’ style of playing. Add to that their personal musical development, along with their Classical European musical influences, and you have acoustic string music performed with a rich new flavor.
Information on The Kruger Brothers
$7 Cover

Tue. Feb. 20th @ 8pm Matt and Shannon Heaton
With clear voices, compelling lyrics, and a sublime melodic sense, Matt & Shannon Heaton combine Irish traditional music backgrounds with fresh, American songcraft. This husband-and-wife’s success and timeless appeal relies on strong material, instrumental prowess, keen arranging sensibilities, and a warm rapport with audiences. Matt & Shannon Heaton integrate harmony singing with traditional and original instrumentals on Irish flute, guitar and vocals. Even if you don't normally listen to Celtic music, Matt and Shannon offer a show so fresh, so invigorating, and brimming with so much personality, you'll wish you had heard them sooner! It's music that satisfies both die-hard Celtic enthusiasts and fans of great songwriting alike.

"Irish Americana. That's how the Heatons describe their billowy, pulsing, and alluringly frisky way with Irish jigs and reels, prim old love songs, and raw-boned ballads. The Chicago-born flute-guitar duo brings a savvy modernity and American rootsiness to the Auld Sod's music, without losing any of its folksy Irish essence. On a bright-eyed new CD, "Blue Skies Above," their playing is masterful and inventive, their arrangements city-smart and spacious. Still, they never forget that Irish music is, at its heart, a neighborly form, meant for sharing, not showing off."  -Scott Alarik- Music Critic for the Boston Globe
More Information on Matt & Shannon Heaton
$6 Cover

Fri. Feb. 23rd @ 9pm Lexington Jazz Project
It Began As An Idea.....
Lexington Jazz Project is not just a jazz group, it is a concept, cultivated from an idea founding members Bruce Martin and Tom Covello shared. Based in Lexington Kentucky, it brings together musicians in the area whose common goal is to explore the limits of jazz.What began as a typical piano / bass / drum configuration has evolved to include many other instruments. All along the band has strived to approach jazz at different angles through creative arranging and improvisation. The members of the band are constantly changing. It is a forum that encourages unique combinations of instruments and electronics, ideas and passions.
 More Information on Lexington Jazz Project
$5 Cover

Sat. Feb. 24th @ 9pm FlamenCorro
Dancers Diana Dinicola, Mariya Tarakanova, guitarist Brent Del Bianco and percussionist Paul Carney of the Flamenco Louisville dance company will perform original music and choreography authentic to the flamenco tradition with modern innovations and a local touch. Performances are designed for an intimate setting to create a passionate entertainment experience filled with all the musical complexities of jazz, the soul of the blues and the mysteries of far-away cultures.

More Information on Flamenco Louisville
$10 Cover

Mon. Feb. 26th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

This Month: Mary Hamilton

Audiences from Florida to Alaska have enjoyed Mary’s straightforward “just talking” storytelling style since 1983. Mary’s performances of audience participation stories, Kentucky tales, fairy tales, haunting tales, and true stories delight students in school gymnasiums, families in libraries, and adults in theaters. Her interactive workshops strengthen participants’ storytelling and related skills. Her recordings supplement classroom instruction and enthrall traveling families. Her CD, “Sisters All…and One Troll” received a 2006 Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Other recognitions: featured performances at the National Storytelling Festival; Kentucky Arts Council Performing Arts Directory and Arts Education Artist Roster.
$5 Cover

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
For More Information about KSA
More Information about Mary Hamilton

Fri. March 2nd @ 9pm Drummer Dave and Company
A seven piece jazz group performing classic standards along with originals. Drummer Dave and Company returns to our stage after a 5 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Friday Night's performance will feature the music of Miles Davis, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey.
$5 Cover

Sat. March 3rd @ 9pm Billy Blues
Now together for more than a decade and with four CDs to their credit, BILLYBLUES is known for their three-part harmonies and bluesy originals. For their Natasha’s appearance, the band will feature a set of 60s Classic Rock covers (including Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison) as well as original selections. Their latest CD, “Blind Date,” has won particular praise for its solid groove and inventive lyrics. “Who Controls the Kisses?” (described by one reviewer as Bo Diddley meets Franz Kafka), “Every Kind of Fool” (with its compelling blend of Latin and rock rhythms), and “Drifting and Drinking” are performance standouts. “When the Big Dog Barks,” also from “Blind Date,” has been credited with reviving canine rock (dormant since Elvis Presley’s “You Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog”).
More Information on Billy Blues
$5 Cover

Wed. March 7th-Fri. March 10th, Sun March 11th &
Wed. March 14th-Fri. March 16th
Ronald Harwood's The Dresser

Period 1942: Sir, the last of the great, but dying breed of English actor managers struggles through Shakespeare's King Lear with the aid of his dresser Norman.

“I hate cinema. I believe in living things”, -says Sir, an old actor manager of a Shakespearean touring troupe to his actress wife. His reference to theatre as a living thing is especially relevant to the latest production of the The Balagula Theatre Company – "The Dresser," a Tony award winning play by Ronald Harwood. Though this play has appeared on several stages and was immortalized in a movie, the new production at The Balagula Theater proves yet again that a good script is a living thing that can be discovered and rediscovered  time after time in a new way. Staged before mostly as a farcical tragedy or even a comedy The Dresser appears in its new rendition as a true drama bringing the audience both laughter and sorrow …

Seating 6:00pm -7:00pm
Tickets: $12.00 General Admission $9.00 Students
Menu Ordering

Sat. March 17th @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
Click Here For More Information on Alma Gitana
$7 Cover

Fri. March 23rd @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
More Information on Mecca
$5 Cover

Sat. March 24th @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers
The Johnson Brothers return to Natasha's to perform the best of the best hard rock Classics. (the real hard stuff no other band in Lexington attempts) Steely Dan! Elton John! Beatles! And anything else complex you can think of... If you haven't seen these guys live, tonight is the night!
More Information on The Johnson Brothers
a clip from Allman Brothers Night (Windows Media Player)
$8 Cover

Mon. March. 26th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
More Information about KSA
$5 Cover

 Sat. March 30th @ 9pm Pale, Stout and Amber
Drawing on Ireland and Scotland’s rich heritage of dance tunes, ballads, and slow airs, Pale, Stout & Amber captures this music in all of its austere beauty and savage soulfulness. The fiery drive of the fiddle and the Irish bouzouki’s haunting drone are the heart of their sound, although Robert’s expressive singing and Art’s expertise on a variety of other instruments are also among their high cards. Wherever they appear, they mix story and song with history and personal experience, taking listeners on a journey across the Atlantic and back to the wellspring of some of America’s most beloved and enduring traditional music.

“the top local pick for Irish and Celtic music”
Walter Tunis Lexington Herald-Leader music critic
More Information on Pale, Stout, & Amber
$5 Cover

Sat. March 31st @ 9pm Wishing Chair
Since 1995, multi-instrumentalist Miriam Davidson and songwriter Kiya Heartwood have made an art of inspiring performances and award winning songs. A Wishing Chair concert is a passionate mix of intelligent lyrics, spell-binding storytelling and breathtaking harmony over a full roots and roll sound. Heartwood's percussive guitar work and wide open vocals compliments Davidson's tasteful use of a myriad of instruments: piano, accordion, banjo, hand drums and bouzouki. Wishing Chair is sure to leave the listener fully satisfied. This gifted duo seduces the listener with soulful confessions, political broadside, and a wicked groove. Their latest CD, Underdog, was awarded Best New Folk CD of 2006, by JPFolks, an Indie organization of over 40,000 music industry professionals.

"Engaging performances, haunting harmonies, poetic, political, stellar vocals." Curve Magazine

"Good lyrics for thinking people; music with meat on its bones." The Omaha Review

"Wishing Chair serves up a lively batch of original songs that follow on two of the oldest traditions of folk music: storytelling and political broadside." Dirty Linen
More Information on Wishing Chair
$7 Cover

Mon. April 2nd @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Donations Accepted

Fri. April 6th @ 9pm Ben Lacy
Thousands of awestruck audience members have watched him move effortlessly from Led Zepplin...to Stevie Wonder...to Van Morrison, not just playing the guitar parts...playing all the parts, at the same time. Snapping and slapping nasty bass grooves, stabbing inspired chord voicings, thumping staccato drumbeats and playing sassy solo lines... all simultaneously. But this isn’t just  a circus trick. It’s pure inspiration crafted with superhuman precision and Mojo to burn.
More Information on Ben Lacy
$5 Cover

Sat. April 7th @ 9pm Blind Corn Liquor Pickers
In their very first Natasha's Bistro performance...
Among the myriad of influences, you will recognize the bluegrass of Bill Monroe, the story-based lyricism of Texas country, the slap-bass recklessness of rockabilly, and the progressive edge of early alternative pop. A local favorite for years and fast gaining national attention, the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers will be throwing a rowdy bluegrass event like no one else can.
" ...spirited and irreverent... " - No Depression

"The Blind Corn Liquor Pickers play what can only be called rowdy, party-time bluegrass-rock...it makes for a heck of a ride." - Performing Songwriter
More Information on Blind Corn Liquor Pickers
$5 Cover

Mon. April 9th @ 8:30pm The Bohemian Nights series presents:
April Ghouls Day! featuring the cast of Bo List's Dracula...
This multi-faceted evening of entertainment in the funky casual atmosphere of Natasha’s Bistro will create a relaxed and inspired environment for performing artists and the public to socialize and enjoy fine foods and spirits while supporting local theatre projects.

All ticket proceeds from this evening of entertainment as well as a portion of restaurant sales will go to support Chance Theatre’s production of Dracula… , written and directed by Lexington theatre staple Bo List, in their fundraising efforts to attend the 2007 International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Entertainment will include musical and theatrical performances by the company of Dracula… There will be a silent auction, a raffle, door prizes and a contest for the creepiest costume, so come dressed for the occasion.
$5 Cover

Fri. April 13th @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
More Information on Alma Gitana
$7 Cover

Sat. April 14th @ 9pm Janissary Stomp
Roger Landes & Chipper Thompson
Award Winning, Globe-Trotting, Genre-Blending Duo

“Probably the only duo in the world performing original music on two Irish bouzoukis, Roger Landes and Chipper Thompson draw on a wealth of musical influences to explore uncharted territories. They are creating a new style for the instrument in which innovation can flourish while remaining true to the spirit of the Middle-Eastern and Celtic cultures which molded the bouzouki: Arabic taqsims meet Mississippi Delta Blues, Greek rebetika meets New Mexican Hispanic waltzes, while African, Celtic, Spanish and Balkan strains compete for the ear’s attention”.
More Information on Janissary Stomp
$ 7 Cover

Thur. April 19th @ 8pm Drummer Dave and Company
"Drummer Dave" McWhorter returns to our stage after a
6 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing Live Jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Always swinging with a variety of players, expect the best in Live Jazz on Thursday. This Thursday featuring the piano styling of Raleigh Dailey.
$5 Cover

Fri. April 20th @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
More Information on Mecca
$5 Cover

Sat. April 21st @ 9pm Johnson Brothers doing Allman Bros.
Lexington's only "rock 'n roll repertory orchestra" The Johnson Brothers bring their meticulous recreations of the most difficult to play live material to the cafe with an entire night of The Allman Brothers Band! If you missed this event in the past than you missed out. The Johnson Brothers are giving you another chance!
a clip from Allman Brothers Night (Windows Media Player)
More Information on The Johnson Brothers
$10 Cover

Wed. April 25th - Fri. April 27th
"Surprise Theatre" RATED 'R'
Well sort of rated 'R." There isn't an actual rating body for theatre like there is for music and movies, but there have always been scripts which made us go: "hmmm...is this too much for a surprise?" So now is our chance to try them out! Join us for a night of theatre a little farther out and a little more wild.
Read the "Surprise Theatre" essay about content
For More Information About "Surprise Theatre"
Tickets $6
 

Sat. April 28th The Bats
Vocalists Missy Johnston, Marilyn Robie, and Susan Thomas blend beautiful harmonies into entertaining and hilarious songs and patter. Melanie Johnson, veteran rock guitarist and songwriter, provides vocals and shy enthusiasm. Marianne Sherman adds earthy humor and a booming bass line. And three very brave men--Craig Cornwell on drums, Jim Gleason on guitar, and Harold Sherman on keyboards--fight for sexual equality as they back up these five feisty women.

Two shows:
7pm Dinner Show, $10
9:30pm Cocktail Show, $7

Mon. April 30th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

This Month: Paschal Baute & Mary Kate
Paschal Baute is a storyteller in the Celtic tradition, which honors all of nature as sacred and each person as blessed by birth. He has been developing storytelling as a tool for building bridges and changing worlds over many years. He is a member of the Healing Story Alliance of the National Storytelling Network, the Kentucky Storytelling Association and the Lexington Spellbinders group. Together with Mary Kane, Baute uses storytelling in a prison ministry program, the Fierce Landscape for the Spiritual Warrior. Baute also tells stories monthly at several Lexington area elementary schools, and uses the art of storytelling to teach conflict management for managers and others in his latest book, Win-Win Finesse.

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
More Information about KSA
$5 Cover

Thurs. May 3rd @ 8pm Drummer Dave and Company
"Drummer Dave" McWhorter returns to our stage after a 6 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing Live Jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Always swinging with a variety of players, expect the best in Live Jazz on Thursday.
$5 Cover

Fri. May 4th @ 9pm Clack Mountain String Band
On the forefront of a diverse and blossoming music scene in Morehead, Kentucky, CMSB consists of four core members; Karly Higgins, Jesse Wells, J.T. Cure and Brett Ratliff. Melody lines are played out on the fiddle with accompaniment from the “knock down” banjo and pushed by the vigorous rhythms of the guitar and doghouse, known as “Rowan County Rhythm.” Their vocal harmonies are also very distinct and tend to blend seamlessly not only with each other but also with the music.
$5 Cover
More Information about Clark Mountain String Band
 

Sat. May 5th @ 8pm - 12pm Bohemian Nights Series: Derby Day
This multi-faceted evening of entertainment in the funky casual atmosphere of Natasha’s Bistro will create a relaxed and inspired environment for performing artists and the public to socialize and enjoy fine foods and spirits while supporting local theatre projects.

All ticket proceeds from this evening of entertainment as well as a portion of restaurant sales will go to support Chance Theatre’s production of Dracula… ,written and directed by Lexington theatre staple Bo List, in their fundraising efforts to attend the 2007 International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Entertainment will include musical and theatrical performances by the company of Dracula…and friends. There will be a silent auction, a raffle, and door prizes. If you missed it in April, come out to this special Derby Day event!
$5 Cover

Sun. May 6th @ 8pm Special Drum Workshop, Show, & Dinner
Mecca Dance Studio presents:
Raquy and the Cavemen

When Middle Eastern music extraordinaire Raquy Danziger joined forces with hard rock musician Liron Peled, the result was dark, powerful Middle Eastern music with a heavy emphasis on Arabic drumming, backed by a band of Arab and Israeli musicians. Raquy, the leader of the group, plays the Iranian Kamanche, a rare and exotic bowed instrument reminiscent of an ancient violin. She is most known for her electrifying performances of original percussion compositions on the Dumbek (Arabic hand drum), which leave audiences awestruck. The group explores the fascinating genre of Progressive Middle-Eastern music with its rich variety of exotic instruments, pulsating rhythms,
and evocative scales.

Drumming Workshop begins at 6pm (Bring your own drum)
Show begins at 8pm
Four coursed Middle Eastern dinner served during the performance
(Dinner included in all prices)
Tickets:
Workshop, Show & Dinner: $35
Show & Dinner: $25
Mor Information on Raquy & The Caveman

Mon. May 7th @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Free

Sat. May 12th @ 9pm Billy Blues
Now together for more than a decade and with four CDs to their credit, Billy Blues is known for their three-part harmonies and bluesy originals. For their Natasha’s appearance, the band will feature a set of 60s Classic Rock covers (including Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison) as well as original selections.
$5 Cover
More Information about Billy Blues

Sale into Summer May 17, 18, 19 with what’s new in Natasha’s Boutique, including new arrivals of flax, lace and mesh Chinese shoes, short skirts by “Dream Dance,” handmade lace dresses by “Lisa” and bodice dresses by “Whish.” 20%-50% OFF Storewide

Thurs. May 17th @ 8pm Drummer Dave and Company
"Drummer Dave" McWhorter returns to our stage after a 6 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing Live Jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Always swinging with a variety of players, expect the best in Live Jazz on Thursday.
$5 Cover

Fri. May 18th @ 9pm Trioshift
“Sporting a combined résumé featuring stints with heavyweights in jazz, blues and country - Martina McBride, Herbie Hancock, Koko Taylor, Jimmie Heath, Lorrie Morgan and Sugar Blue - guitarist John Cook, drummer Chuck Fields and bassist Tony Nagy bring a wide range of influences to their instrumental project Trioshift.

"…{they}are unrepentant destroyers of stylistic boundaries…It’s a rare opportunity to hear a local jazz act so willing to push the envelope, and these guys have the chops to back up their impetuousness.” -JACK SILVERMAN, ‘Nashville Scene’ music critic

The Nashville favorite will bring their unconfined style of jazz to our stage for their second Natasha’s appearance.
$5 Cover

Sat. May 19th @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers play Steely Dan
The one-and-only Johnson Brothers bring their rock n’ roll repertory orchestra back down to the café for a night of “Tablecloth Rock n’ Roll”, playing the greatest hits from classic rock group Steely Dan.
$10 Cover

May 23rd-25th, 27th, & 30th-June 1st @ 8pm
The Balagula Theatre presents:
Power Plays by Elaine May and Alan Arkin

The Balagula Theatre’s latest endeavor harnesses the genius minds of famed actor/directors Elaine May and Alan Arkin with their 1998 collaboration Power Plays. Balagula will present two one-act plays contained in the work, including The Way of All Fish, about a bizarre office exchange between a business executive and her meek secretary, and the darkly absurd Virtual Reality, a comical glimpse into the seedy lives of two men pantomiming an illegal warehouse transaction. Both one-acts are farcical examinations of the reversal of power in two seemingly opposite worlds of business culture.

(Sunday performance will be a “Soup Show”. Tickets are on a donations basis and free soup will be served, so bring your own bowl!)

Directed by Ed Desiato
Starring Ryan Case & Shayne Brakefield
$12 Tickets

Sat. May 26th @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.
$7 Cover
More Information about Alma Gitana

Mon. May 28th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

This Month: Bill Watson

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
More Information about KSA
$5 Cover

Sat. June 2 @ 9pm Belleville Outfit
Based out of Lousiana’s finest music and arts city, but with homes littered across the U.S., the Belleville Outfit serves up a truly unique mix of gypsy swing, big band jazz, and roots Americana/Bluegrass. Both innovative in their combining of genres, and true to their musical roots, the Belleville Outfit, though young, has already solidified itself as a tour-de-force in the world of acoustic music. Three of the six group members toured extensively for years with the South Carolina based DesChamps Band, and return to Lexington with talented new artists in their line-up and an inventive new flavor.
$8 Cover
More Information about Belleville Outfit

Mon. June 4 @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Students of the Mecca Dance Studio perform live every first Monday of the month.
Free

Wed. June 6 @ 8pm Piano Wednesdays featuring Lance Brunner
Donations Accepted

Thurs. June 7 @ 8pm Drummer Dave and Company
"Drummer Dave" McWhorter returns to our stage after a 6 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing Live Jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Always swinging with a variety of players, expect the best in Live Jazz on Thursday.
$5 Cover

Sat. June 9 @ 9pm Ben Lacy
Thousands of awestruck audience members have watched him move effortlessly from Led Zepplin...to Stevie Wonder...to Van Morrison, not just playing the guitar parts...playing all the parts, at the same time. Snapping and slapping nasty bass grooves, stabbing inspired chord voicings, thumping staccato drumbeats and playing sassy solo lines... all simultaneously. But this isn’t just a circus trick. It’s pure inspiration crafted with superhuman precision and Mojo to burn.
$5 Cover
More Information about Ben Lacy

Mon. June 11 @ 7pm Bohemian Nights: Scotland or Bust
This multi-faceted evening of entertainment in the funky casual atmosphere of Natasha’s Bistro will create a relaxed and inspired environment for performing artists and the public to socialize and enjoy fine foods and spirits while supporting local theatre projects.

All ticket proceeds from this evening of entertainment as well as a portion of restaurant sales will go to support Chance Theatre’s production of Dracula… ,written and directed by Lexington theatre staple Bo List, in their fundraising efforts to attend the 2007 International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Entertainment will include musical and theatrical performances by the company of Dracula…and many more. There will be a silent auction, a raffle, and door prizes. This is the last chance to come out and support this troupe before they head off for Scotland in early August!
$5 Cover

Fri. June 15 @ 9pm Pale, Stout and Amber

Drawing on Ireland and Scotland’s rich heritage of dance tunes, ballads, and slow airs, Pale, Stout & Amber captures this music in all of its austere beauty and savage soulfulness. $5 Cover More Information About Pale, Stout and Amber

Sat. June 16 @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
$5 Cover
More Information About Rakadu Gypsy Dance

Wed. June 20 @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring Harold Sherman
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Thurs. June 21 @ 8pm Drummer Dave and Company
"Drummer Dave" McWhorter returns to our stage after a 6 year hiatus from public performances. Known for bringing Live Jazz to Lexington in the 90's, his groups and his drumming were a favorite with jazz fans in the region. Always swinging with a variety of players, expect the best in Live Jazz on Thursday.
$5 Cover

Fri. June 22 @9pm The Swells
$5 Cover

Mon. June 25 @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers

Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor. Presented in conjunction with the Kentucky Storytelling Association. More Information About KSA $5 Cover

Wed. June 27 @ 8pm Zach Brock

A Lexington native, Brock will return home for a limited engagement performance at Natasha's Bistro. Zach's artistry, both as a performer and composer, places him in the company of today's leading young jazz innovators. The Chicago Tribune calls him “…one of the most promising and versatile young violinists in jazz. “ Composer Orbert Davis describes Brock as "…not just a violinist who plays jazz, but a jazz musician who happens to play the violin." $10 Cover

More Information About Zach Brock

Fri. June 29 The Bats
Vocalists Missy Johnston, Marilyn Robie, and Susan Thomas blend beautiful harmonies into entertaining and hilarious songs and patter. Melanie Johnson, veteran rock guitarist and songwriter, provides vocals and shy enthusiasm. Marianne Sherman adds earthy humor and a booming bass line. And three very brave men--Craig Cornwell on drums, Jim Gleason on guitar, and Harold Sherman on keyboards--fight for sexual equality as they back up these five feisty women.

More Information About The Bats

Two shows: 7:30pm Dinner Show, $10 / 10:00pm Cocktail Show, $7

Tickets go on sale June 4th and are sold through
the Box Office, Mon-Thurs 11am – 4pm
Credit Cards charged over the phone.
We accept MC, VISA, DISCOVER only.

Sat. June 30 @ 9pm In Search of Rumi
Rumi poetry reading.
Donations Accepted

Mon. July 2 @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Students of the Mecca Dance Studio perform live every first Monday of the month.
No Cover

Fri. July 6 @ 9pm Bruce Lewis
After years of performing throughout the southern United States, a time that saw him perform with such global favorites as Bela Fleck, Larry Coryell, Bob Brozman, Nneena Freelon and Victor Wooten, Bruce moved to Budapest, Hungary in 1993 and has since toured extensively throughout Europe. “Lewis is a marvelous stylist offering an acoustic guitar sound that ranges from Doc Watson to the soulful reaches of Robert Johnson.... if you enjoy great guitar picking and blues… you won’t be disappointed.”
$5 Cover
More Information About Bruce Lewis

Sat. July 7 @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers 'White Album'
Fresh out on their “Band of Tipsies” Tour, the boys will be back with their phenomenal recreation of the Beatles’ White Album. If you haven’t had a chance to see this, run to the phone for reservations NOW! And if you have seen it, you’re probably already camping out in a tent on the Natasha’s sidewalk. They are just that good.
$10 Cover
More Information About The Johnson Brothers

Wed. July 11 @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring: Lance Brunner
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Thursday, July 12th The Beyond the Book Series presents:

Jacqueline Taylor discussing her latest book
Waiting for the Call: From Preacher's Daughter to Lesbian Mom

Waiting for the Call takes readers from the foothills of the Appalachians---where Jacqueline Taylor was brought up in a strict evangelical household---to contemporary Chicago, where she and her lesbian partner are raising a family. In a voice by turns comic and loving, Taylor recounts the amazing journey that took her in profoundly different directions from those she or her parents could have ever envisioned.

Dinner Seating at 7pm
Tickets are $15 (includes discussion and copy of book)

Fri. July 15 @ 5:30pm Special Patio Menu
Natasha's will offer a light summer patio menu for an evening of casual outside dining.

Sat. July 14 @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
$7 Cover
More Information About Alma Gitana

Wed. July 18 @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring Harold Sherman
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Thurs. July 19 @ 9pm Kava Java Trio
From choice pop, to blues, to urban country, to light jazz, this talented trio plays all your favorites on double bass, piano, acoustic guitar and rhythm.
$5 Cover
More Information About Kava Java Trio

Fri. July 20 @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
$5 Cover
More Information About Mecca

Fri. July 21 @ 9pm Miles Osland and Anders Astrand Quartet
A free minded, jazz oriented fusion project from local jazzman Miles Osland and internationally acclaimed Anders Astrand.
$7 Cover
More Information About Miles Osland & Anders Astrand Quartet

Wed. July 25 @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring: Lance Brunner
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Thurs. July 26 @ 9pm Kokichi Tagawa Trio
Our Jazz Thursdays continue with the Kokichi Tagawa Trio featuring Matthew Davidson on bass and John Willmarth on drums.
$5 Cover

Fri. July 27 and Sat. July 28 The Bats
Vocalists Missy Johnston, Marilyn Robie, and Susan Thomas blend beautiful harmonies into entertaining and hilarious songs and patter. Melanie Johnson, veteran rock guitarist and songwriter, provides vocals and shy enthusiasm. Marianne Sherman adds earthy humor and a booming bass line. And three very brave men--Craig Cornwell on drums, Jim Gleason on guitar, and Harold Sherman on keyboards--fight for sexual equality as they back up these five feisty women.

Friday Dinner Show @ 8pm $10 cover

Two Saturday performances:
Dinner Show @ 7pm $10 Cover & Cocktail Show @ 9:30pm $7 Cover

Tickets go on sale July 2nd and are sold through the Box Office, Mon-Thurs 11am – 4pm at 859.259.2754. Credit Cards charged over the phone. We accept MC, VISA, DISCOVER only.

More Information About The Bats

Mon. July 30 @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

This month: Bonnie Hunter Strassell
with CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND SPIT IN YOUR HAT; an evening of Kentucky yarns, superstitions, haints, feuds, and just plain fun.

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
$5 Cover
More Information About KSA
 

Wed. August 1st @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring: Lew Bowling
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Fri. August 3rd @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
$7 Cover
More Information About Alma Gitana

Sat. August 4 @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
$5 Cover
For More Information About Mecca

Mon. August 6 @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Students of the Mecca Dance Studio perform live every first Monday of the month.
Free
For More Information About Mecca

Wed. August 8th and Thurs. August 9th
Fantastical Theatricals presents:
Murder at Cafe Noir

Fantastical Theatricals, Central Kentucky's exclusive provider of ‘Interactive Murder Mysteries', presents Murder at Café Noir, a farcical tribute to Bogart films of the 1940's. The mystery will unfold at Natasha's Bistro between plates of a special recipe four course dinner. Audience members are highly encouraged to participate in the action by dressing ‘Noir' style (black and white clothing) or in 1940's styled attire.

Performances begin at 8:30 pm
$39 General Admission
$32 Seniors, Students and Groups of 6 or more
Price includes entertainment and four course dinner
Click here for The Cafe Noir Menu
For More Information About Fantastical Theatricals

Fri. August 10th @ 9pm The Swells
$5 Cover

Sat. August 11 @ 9pm Wishing Chair
A passionate mix of intelligent lyrics, spell-binding storytelling and breathtaking harmony over a full roots and roll sound, Wishing Chair is sure to leave the listener fully satisfied. This gifted duo seduces the listener with soulful confessions, political broadside, and a wicked groove.

"Engaging performances, haunting harmonies, poetic, political, stellar vocals."
Curve Magazine
"Good lyrics for thinking people; music with meat on its bones."
The Omaha Review
"Wishing Chair serves up a lively batch of original songs that follow on two of the oldest traditions of folk music: storytelling and political broadside."
Dirty Linen
$7 Cover
More Information About Wishing Chair

Wed. August 15th @ 8pm Piano Wednesday - Featuring: Lew Bowling
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Fri. August 17 @ 9pm Belleville Outfit
Based out of Lousiana's finest music and arts city, but with homes littered across the U.S., the Belleville Outfit serves up a truly unique mix of gypsy swing, big band jazz, and roots Americana/Bluegrass. Both innovative in their combining of genres, and true to their musical roots, the Belleville Outfit, though young, has already solidified itself as a tour-de-force in the world of acoustic music.
$8 Cover
More Information about Belleville Outfit

Wed. August 22 @ 7pm-10pm Milonga sponsored by LexTango
Argentine Tango dancers gather at Natasha's Cafe in Downtown Lexington. Everyone is welcome. Come to dance or to observe. Regular Argentine Tango classes are held at Artsplace and are sponsored by the Lexington Vintage Dance Society.
Free

Thur. August 23 @ 9pm Kokichi Tagawa Trio
Jazz Piano Trio: Vocal/Sax: Angie Ortega (BigPhatJam Winner), Piano: Kokichi Tagawa, Bass: Satoru Tagawa ("The Producers" National Tour), and Drums: John Willmarth (UK Faculty Percussion)
$5 Cover
More Information about Kokichi Tagawa Trio

Fri. August 24 @ 9pm Midlife Harmony
Acoustic rock trio, covering harmonious tunes from the 60's and 70's, including favorites from the Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, the Zombies, Steely Dan, the Turtles, the Beach Boys, James Taylor, the Mammas & the Papas, and many more.
$5 Cover

Sat. August 25 @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers
The one-and-only Johnson Brothers bring their rock n' roll repertory orchestra back down to the café for a night of "Tablecloth Rock n' Roll", playing the best in classic rock hits.
$10 Cover
For More Information About The Johnson Brothers

August Against the Violence Month at Natasha’s Bistro
Each Tuesday night in August, come to Natasha’s for UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS Benefit Nights. 10% of your dinner purchase on Tuesdays will go to the Kentucky UTVS Festival, presenting community events from August 18th through September 1st to spread awareness of violence against women.

The Festival issues a call to action to all Kentuckians through theater, art, spoken word, performance and community events: Demand an end to violence against women and girls and become an active partner in ending it!

Natasha’s Bistro proudly supports V-Day and the UTVS Festival through our August benefit nights.
More Information about UTVS
 

Mon. August 27 @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers
Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor.

Presented in conjunction with the
Kentucky Storytelling Association.
$5 Cover
More Information About KSA
 

Wed. August 28 @8pm  Piano Wednesday - Lance Brunner
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Donations Accepted

Fri. August 31 @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.  An occasional Gypsy Kings song rounds out the mix.  Alma Gitana's performances invoke the spirit and sound of Andalucia. In response to  the ensemble's performance, an audience member from Cadiz wrote, "American Gypsies, Thanks for bringing us a little of Andalucia, I feel at home! Ole, ole y ole!" Alma Gitana's passionate and soulful performance will make you want to shout, "Olé" too!
$7 Cover
More Information About Alma Gitana

Sat. September 1 @ 9pm JoAnna James
Made up of equal parts soul, folk and blues, JoAnna James is a gifted singer/songwriter from St. Paul, Minnesota whose live performances leave her audiences longing for more.

“…the true heart and soul of this rare talent—the reason you should remember her name—is her live performance. When JoAnna James closes her eyes and begins her song, gravity suddenly leaves the room.”- City Pages, April 2007
More Information About JoAnna James
$6 Cover

Mon. September 3 @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Students of the Mecca Dance Studio perform live every first Monday of the month.
Free

Wed. September 5 @ 8pm Piano Wednesdays - Harold Sherman
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Free

Fri. September 7th @ 9pm The Big Maracas Latin rhythms shakin’ out here at Natasha’s for your enjoyment. $5 Cover

September 9 - 16

Paragon Music Theatre presents:
The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years is a contemporary song-cycle musical that chronicles the five year life of a marriage, from meeting to break-up… or break-up to meeting, depending on how you look at it. Jason Robert Brown, one of Broadway’s most promising new composers, has carefully crafted the book, music and lyrics. The show is presented in “reverse time” as we follow the story through the eyes of Cathy, an aspiring young actress; and simultaneously in “forward time” as we follow the story through the eyes of Jamie, a young man who aspires to become an author. The score is made up primarily of insightful, humorous, and heartfelt solos that aim at reinventing the traditional musical story-telling formula. It remains one of the brightest, freshest, and most entertaining scores of the 21st Century.

$9 Tickets (does not include dinner/brunch)

Monday-Friday show times are at 9pm,
Dinner seating is from 7:00-7:45pm.
Sunday show times are at 2pm, with brunch beginning at noon.

Special sneak preview performance Thursday, September 6.
Call for details

More Information About Paragon Music Theatre

Wed. September 19 @ 9pm Anais Mitchell
25 year-old folk chanteuse and world explorer Anais Mitchell is making her second trip through the Bluegrass since the March release of her third album “The Brightness”. Mitchell’s vocal style is reminiscent of indie-favorite Joanna Newsom with the vintage lyrical flow of Jolie Holland and a hint of Devendra Banhart’s brave oddity.
More Information About Anais Mitchell
$8 Cover

Thurs. September 20 @ 9pm The Five Gringos - Feat. Harold Sherman
Latin/jazz group playing the hottest Latino rhythms in Lexington. Salsa, cha-cha, bossa nova…they’ve got it all! Come ready to add a little salsa flavor to the summer heat!
$5 Cover

Fri. September 21 @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers

This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio. $5 Cover

Fri. September 22 @ 9pm The Johnson Brothers
The one-and-only Johnson Brothers bring their rock n’ roll repertory orchestra back down to the café for a night of “Tablecloth Rock n’ Roll”, playing the best in classic rock hits.

More Information About The Johnson Brothers Band
$10 Cover

Mon. September 24 @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers

Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor. Presented in conjunction with the Kentucky Storytelling Association. $5 Cover More Information About KSA

Tue. September 25th @ 8pm JoAnna James with Sean Walsh
Back by popular demand! Returning to Natasha's after a sold-out, standing room only performance earlier this month. Come hear the voice that's captivating Lexington and the country with soulful words and genuine talent.

“…the true heart and soul of this rare talent—the reason you should remember her name—is her live performance. When JoAnna James closes her eyes and begins her song, gravity suddenly leaves the room.” - City Pages, April 2007
$7 Cover
For more information visit joannajames.com

Wed. September 26 @ 8pm Piano Wednesdays - Harold Sherman
Soft piano to romanticize your dining experience brought to you every Wednesday night.
Free

Thurs. September 27th @ 9pm The Kava Java Trio
From choice pop, to blues, to urban country, to light jazz, this talented trio plays
all your favorites on double bass, piano, acoustic guitar and rhythm.
For more information visit kkjava.com
$5 Cover

Fri. September 28th @ 9pm The Patty Butcher Blues Band
A high energy group of seasoned blues musicians in their first performance at Natasha’s, but you might have heard their funky sound resounding through the streets of downtown Lexington on any given weekend as they regularly pack clubs with some of the best blues around.
$7 Cover

Thur. October 4th @ 8pm
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth presents: Anne Feeney

Pittsburgh-based agitator Anne Feeney performs music that she says is designed to
“comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Feeney’s bottomless song bag draws on Irish, bluegrass, traditional, labor, pop, folk and contemporary material. She’s as likely to sing a traditional song or an obscure gem by one of her many friends in the singer/songwriter circuit as she is one of her own award-winning songs. While Feeney may prefer the excitement of performances at rallies and demonstrations, she knows that many of her fans prefer pepper-spray free environments to listen to the songs and stories that make up her sometimes caustic, sometimes hilarious, always inspiring show.
For more information visit www.annefeeney.com
$10-$20 suggested donation

Fri. October 5th @ 9pm Alma Gitana
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups.
For more information visit www.almagitanamusic.com
$7 Cover

Mon. & Tues. Oct. 8th & 9th @ 9pm The Belleville Outfit
Based out of Lousiana's finest music and arts city, but with homes littered across the U.S., the Belleville Outfit serves up a truly unique mix of gypsy swing, big band jazz, and roots Americana/Bluegrass. Both innovative in their combining of genres, and true to their musical roots, the Belleville Outfit, though young, has already solidified itself as a tour-de-force in the world of acoustic music.
For more information visit www.bellevilleoutfit.com
$8 Cover

Wed. October 10th -Sat. October 13th
“Surprise Theatre”: Nouveau Americana

The Balagula Theatre’s popular series returns for its third tour-de-force season with “Nouveau Americana”. The plays are secret, the actors are secret and anything can happen for four nights of the bizarre, the hilarious and the extraordinary that have come to define “Surprise Theatre.”
For more information visit www.beetnik.com/surprisetheatre.html
Seating times 6pm-6:30pm
Tickets: $7

Tues. October 16th @ 6pm Texas-style Gourmet Barbecue
Part of the 10 Days of Music: Thomas Pasatieri Festival October 9-20. The UK Opera Theatre welcomes the distinguished composer as they celebrate the world premier of Pasatieri’s latest opera The Hotel Casablanca performed by University of Kentucky musicians and vocalists.

Following an artist’s talk and question and answer session with Thomas Pasatieri at the historic Kentucky Theatre at 5pm ($5 at Kentucky Theatre), we will be serving Texas style barbecue in three varieties:

• Hearty beef brisket
• Tender pork barbecue
• Succulent chicken barbecue

Chipotle chicken with avocado salad
Spicy Texas meatloaf

Southern Sides:
Texas style chili
Smashed red potatoes
Black and green beans
Rice in the Wild
Texas style squash casserole
Corn relish
Panhandle potato salad
Texas cole slaw
Creamy cornbread salad
Traditional corn bread
Southern apple pie

Cost: $30 (includes tax and gratuity)
Reservations Required

Pasatieri has composed and written the librettos for numerous operas, composed hundreds of art songs which have been performed by some of the finest voices in the world, and is a prolific composer for chorus. You may best recognize his work as music orchestrator for such films as Erin Brockovitch, American Beauty, Fried Green Tomatoes, Shawshank Redemption, Meet Joe Black, Finding Nemo, Legends of the Fall, Little Mermaid and Scent of a Woman.

Thur. October 18th @ 9pm Trioshift
Sporting a combined résumé featuring stints with heavyweights in jazz, blues and country - Martina McBride, Herbie Hancock, Koko Taylor, Jimmie Heath, Lorrie Morgan and Sugar Blue - guitarist John Cook, drummer Chuck Fields and bassist Tony Nagy bring a wide range of influences to their instrumental project Trioshift.

"…{they}are unrepentant destroyers of stylistic boundaries…It’s a rare opportunity to hear a local jazz act so willing to push the envelope, and these guys have the chops to back up their impetuousness.” -JACK SILVERMAN, ‘Nashville Scene’ music critic
The Nashville favorite will bring their unconfined style of jazz to our stage for their third Natasha’s appearance.
$5 Cover

Fri. October 19th @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers
This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio.
For more information visit www.meccadance.com
$5 Cover

Sat. October 20th @ 9pm The Patty Butcher Blues Band
A high energy group of seasoned blues musicians in their first performance at Natasha’s, but you might have heard their funky sound resounding through the streets of downtown Lexington on any given weekend as they regularly pack clubs with some of the best blues around.
$7 Cover

Tue. October 23rd and Wed. October 24th @ 8:30pm
Fantastical Theatricals presents:
The Altos

A Musical Comedy Mystery Spoof! It's Tony's funeral (Or is it?) and his wife Toffee has invited you to the wake. Chris wants you should check your weapons at the door (and if you don't have any, he's got extras!) Uncle Senior has a rigged dice game going and Tony's Ma is dealing blackjack! Dr Malaise is giving free analysis and the Father isn't sure WHAT he is doing! Be prepared to eat Italian food, dodge bullets, laugh at the songs and see if you can't figure out who put a contract on Tony!
For more information visit www.fantasticaltheatricals.com
$39 General Admission
$34 Seniors, Students and Groups of 6 or more
Price includes entertainment and four course dinner to be served during the show

Thur. October 25th @ 9pm The Five Gringos feat. Harold Sherman
Latin/jazz group playing the hottest Latino rhythms in Lexington. Salsa, cha-cha, bossa nova…they’ve got it all! Come ready to bring back a little summer heat and salsa flavor to your daily routine!
$5 Cover

Fri. October 26 @ 9pm. Dylan Sneed feat. David Ramirez
Touring from Texas all across the eastern U.S. Dylan Sneed with make a short stop in Lexington to share a bit of his talents.
$5 Cover

“Rich and rewarding, Sneed's songs have a sly humor and an offbeat charm that makes their religious underpinnings all the more convincing.” - Dallas Observer
For more information visit dylansneed.com

Mon. October 29th @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers

Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor. Presented in conjunction with the Kentucky Storytelling Association. $5 Cover More Information About KSA

Thurs. November 1st @ 9pm Doc Messina feat. Petticoat Petticoat
Blues, folk, country, jazz . . . and just a bit of classical music. Frank “Doc” Messina brings his singer/songwriter gifts to bear as he shares his “Wisdom Music;” music that reflects on life from an adult perspective. (You may remember him from the famous, “Messina and Company,” and the infamous “Richardson/Messina”; or from his TV program, “Arts: They’re A Part of Life.”)

Join Doc and his special guests, “Petticoat, Petticoat,” and Jim Richardson. Oh, and did we mention that this show is downright fun??!!
$5 Cover

Fri. November 2 @ 9pm Pale, Stout and Amber

Drawing on Ireland and Scotland’s rich heritage of dance tunes, ballads, and slow airs, Pale, Stout & Amber captures this music in all of its austere beauty and savage soulfulness. $6 Cover More Information About Pale, Stout and Amber

Sat. November 3rd @ 9pm Billy Blues
Now together for more than a decade and with four CDs to their credit, Billy Blues is known for their three-part harmonies and bluesy originals. For their Natasha’s appearance, the band will feature a set of 60s Classic Rock covers (including Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison) as well as original selections.
$5 Cover
More Information about Billy Blues & Watch a Billy Blues Video

Fri. November 9 @ 9pm Midlife Harmony
Acoustic rock trio, covering harmonious tunes from the 60's and 70's, including favorites from the Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, the Zombies, Steely Dan, the Turtles, the Beach Boys, James Taylor, the Mammas & the Papas, and many more.
$5 Cover

Sat. Nov 10th @ 9pm  @ 9pm The Big Maracas Latin rhythms shakin’ out here at Natasha’s for your enjoyment. $5 Cover

Wed November 14 @ 8 pm In Search Of Rumi
An evening celebrating the works of poet Rumi. Audience members may read or simply listen and enjoy. FREE. Donations accepted.

Fri. Nov 16 @ 9pm The Swells
Traditional and regional mix of Caribbean, Cuban and Brazilian music
$5 Cover

 

Fri. Nov 16  Gallery Hop Downtown! Come have dinner, drinks or desserts at Natasha's before or after you travel around in admiration of our local galleries and the artists who fill them! Gallery Hop is a Lexington tradition that brings culture to our community. Make sure you make this a night for hopping around downtown! Reservations 259-2754

Sat. November 17 @ 9pm Puncheon Creek
Puncheon Creek blends bluegrass, folk, swing, and rock to create a sound all their own. Tight harmonies, local flavored songs, and unexpected instruments, make Puncheon Creek a band you won't soon forget.
$5 cover

Wed. November 21 @ 7pm-10pm Milonga sponsored by LexTango
Argentine Tango dancers gather at Natasha's Cafe in Downtown Lexington. Everyone is welcome. Come to dance or to observe. Regular Argentine Tango classes are held at Artsplace and are sponsored by the Lexington Vintage Dance Society.
Free

Fri Nov 23 The Line Preview

Israel Horovitz's "Line" Preview

Seating 7-7:30
Showtime: 8:30
Donations Accepted

More Information at Balagula Theatre

Reservations 259-2754

Fri. November 24th @ 9pm Rakadu Gypsy Dancers

This is a stunning and sensuous performance full of color, inspiring music and graceful movement by the professional gypsy dancing troupe of Mecca Dance Studio. For more information visit www.meccadance.com $5 Cover

Mon. November 26 @ 9pm Wandering Storytellers

Award winning storytellers from all over Kentucky perform in our brand new Wandering Storytellers series. Experience the lost oral tradition that gave the foundation for all other vocal arts! Each month the stories will change, as new artists take the floor. Presented in conjunction with the Kentucky Storytelling Association. $5 Cover More Information About KSA

Fri. November 30th @ 9pm Alma Gitana

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Alma Gitana (Gypsy Soul) performs the music of some of Spain's most progressive Flamenco fusion groups. For more information visit www.almagitanamusic.com $7 Cover

Sat. Dec 1 @ 9pm Wishing Chair

A passionate mix of intelligent lyrics, spell-binding storytelling and breathtaking harmony over a full roots and roll sound, Wishing Chair is sure to leave the listener fully satisfied. This gifted duo seduces the listener with soulful confessions, political broadside, and a wicked groove.

"Engaging performances, haunting harmonies, poetic, political, stellar vocals." -Curve Magazine

"Good lyrics for thinking people; music with meat on its bones."
 - The Omaha Review

"Wishing Chair serves up a lively batch of original songs that follow on two of the oldest traditions of folk music: storytelling and political broadside."
- Dirty Linen

$7 Cover

Mon. December 3 @ 8pm Mecca Student Dancers
Students of the Mecca Dance Studio perform live every first Monday of the month.
Free

November 27 to December 6th. "Line"