American Beauties: Workingwomen Sing the Dead
About this Event
On what would have been Jerry Garcia’s 84 th birthday American Beauties brings together a powerhouse group of voices—Felice Rosser, Hope DeBates, Suzahn Fiering, Carol Lipnik and Mary Lee Kortes for a night that promises to be as soulful, unpredictable, and alive as the songs themselves.
They’ll be joined by Fabio Fantuzzi and John Kruth, your multi-instrumentalist hosts for the night. Together, the group will trade songs—moving from deep cuts to classics you didn’t know you missed, with plenty of surprises along the way.
This isn’t about recreating the past—it’s about keeping the spirit moving, right here, right now. And there’s no better place than Café Wha? to celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead—and the spirit of Jerry Garcia. Don’t miss it.
Performers Include:
Felice Rosser
A commanding presence on the New York scene, Felice Rosser is a bassist, vocalist, and bandleader who fronts the soul/funk/punk group Faith NYC. Known for her magnetic live performances, she has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gary Lucas, and Ari Up of The Slits—moving fluidly between music, art, and the downtown avant-garde.
Her work extends into film and theater, with appearances in cult classics such as Permanent Vacation (dir. Jim Jarmusch), You Are Not I (dir. Sara Driver) and Born in Flames (dir. Lizzie Borden). She has also performed with The Puerto Rican National Traveling Theater and appeared in the off-Broadway production Driving on the Left Side, bringing the same intensity to her acting as to her music.
Hope DeBates
A downtown favorite with deep roots in the countrypolitan style, Hope DeBates blends country and jazz traditions with a warm, expressive voice. Her performances range from the edgy to intimate with monologues and stage patter that reveal a wicked sense of humor, as seen in her one-woman performance The Jack Mackerel Show.
Suzahn Fiering
A true Village original, Suzahn Fiering has been part of the New York music fabric for decades. Over the years, she has shared stages and studios with an extraordinary range of artists—from Paul McCartney and Pete Seeger to Jaco Pastorius, Yoko Ono, Faith Hill, and Roger Daltrey.
She was honored with the “Honored Friend Award” by Sir Paul McCartney and LIPA for her work bringing artists together through major fundraising events. Her original musical Bourbon on Broadway—a sharp, funny, and socially conscious take on American history—earned critical acclaim during its off-Broadway run and continues to return to stages in New York and across the U.S.
Carol Lipnik
Singer, actress, and one-of-a-kind interpreter, Carol Lipnik moves effortlessly between avant-garde theater and downtown music. Her haunting, otherworldly voice and striking stage presence make every performance deeply immersive and unforgettable.
She has collaborated with and composed music for multi-award-winning performance artist John Kelly, as well as with composer and bandleader Gordon Beeferman—work that reflects her deep roots in New York’s experimental and interdisciplinary arts scene.
Mary Lee Kortes
Mary Lee Kortes is a songwriter, performer and author hailed as “a masterful songwriter” (The Village Voice). Among her many projects, Mary Lee’s Corvette presented a celebrated live, song-for-song interpretation of Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks recorded at Arlene’s Grocery and wrote the book Dreaming of Dylan: 115 Dreams About Bob (2018).
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John Kruth
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, author, and music historian, John Kruth’s work spans folk, jazz, and experimental music. A longtime presence on the New York scene, he has performed and recorded with artists including Allen Ginsberg, John Cale, and Hal Willner, bringing a rare blend of curiosity, virtuosity, and deep musical intuition to every collaboration.
He is also the author of several acclaimed books on American music and culture, including To Live’s to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt and Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. A true musical explorer, Kruth brings both depth and spontaneity to the stage.
Fabio Fantuzzi
Academic, curator, and singer-songwriter working between Italy and New York, Fabio Fantuzzi brings together music, storytelling, and cultural history. He is the author of Bob Dylan and the Arts and Norman Raeben (1901–1978): The Wandering Painting, and his work explores the deep connections between music, poetry, and visual arts.
In recent years, he has shared the stage with artists including David Amram, Christine Lavin, David Massengill, Scarlet Rivera, Rob Stoner, Elijah Wald, Terre Roche, Erik Frandsen, and Suzanne Vega, among others.
Drawing on folk and blues traditions—and the layered histories of Greenwich Village—his work moves between scholarship and performance, keeping those traditions alive while opening them to new conversations across genres and generations.
#LiveatCafeWha?
Please Note: Two Item Minimum Per Attendee. All Sales Final
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 25.95 to USD 38.49
