Peter Lehman plays theorbo at the cafe. Susan Gilbert photo
Louise Grasmere, Adrian Thomas, Tino D’Agostino, Peter Lehman of quartet C#-7b5. Susan Gilbert photo
Local venue hosts a wide range of creative events each weekend
“Roasted Granola Fridays” has become known for being a go-to at the end of the work week — hosting music, art classes, books signings, poetry jams and more. The owners plan to continue this practice — and are open to considering new and different artists.
Devised by the owners of The Roasted Granola Café and ArtLinks Arlington founder Lidia Kenig Scher, the ongoing series features artists representing many different disciplines; these events typically take place each Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. Often but not always it is live music. However, all sorts of events are held; for example, slated tonight is a workshop with Marjory Bangs, a local collage artist, demonstrating and teaching how to create notecards for holidays or other occasions. The cost tonight is $10 cash at the door.
With of the café’s cozy atmosphere, guests are in close proximity to the instructors or performers. Food and beverages are served. The venue also features rotating exhibits of fine art; at any given time, some 50 framed pictures typically are on display, and all the art works are for sale.
“We love supporting the arts and think it’s a fantastic contribution to this community. It adds a bit of light to our lives, because otherwise it’s just all work,” said Emily Patel, Roasted Granola Café founder, CEO and co-owner with her sister Sarah Short.
The most current week’s events typically are listed on the website of The Roasted Granola Café, 1346 Mass. Ave., in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.
Additional creatives are welcome to apply for consideration. Those who may wish to, perhaps, teach a workshop, sing, read poetry, play an instrument, stage a dramatic performance or have a book reading/signing are encouraged to send emails with proposals including their dates of availability to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jazz with Renaissance instrument featured
Earlier this autumn, the band C#-7b5 played at the cafe; it also has performed at Arlington’s Robbins Library and other local venues and events. The band, whose name refers to a chord used in songs such as “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy and Bess” and many other compositions, started when Sabato “Tino” D’Agostino and fellow musician Peter Lehman got together during the pandemic to play. D’Agostino recently told YourArlington that future performances are planned, including some with just Lehman and himself working as a duo.
The band’s set Sept. 29 featured the following musicians:
Louise Grasmere – singer, percussionist and guitarist. A 28-year Arlington resident, Grasmere has three solo recordings and one with another group, and she has been singing in the Boston area professionally for 30 years. She’s now making a new album and that evening played a song from it, called “Jupiter,” because, she said, “I love looking at the sky, watching the clouds go by. This song is about me and Jupiter, and how much we both love the sky.”
Tino D’Agostino – electric and acoustic bassist. D’Agostino teaches and directs individuals and groups around greater Boston, ranging from small ensembles to full orchestras; he may be best known locally for directing the jazz, orchestra and symphonic bands at Arlington High School.
Peter Lehman – theorboist (a theorbo is a large, plucked, 14-string instrument belonging to the lute family, dating from 1630). “It’s a very innovative instrument, and I’m trying to play jazz on it,” he said at the recent concert. Lehman also plays Renaissance and Baroque music, and he has played in prior group ensembles.
Adrian Thomas – substitute percussionist, Arlington resident and former D’Agostino student.
The group’s first time performing at the Roasted Granola Café was Sept. 29; despite the rainy weather, the venue was packed. The group played a variety of tunes, including “Fly Me to the Moon,” popularized by Frank Sinatra; “Bebop” by Miles Davis; and “All of Me,” known to many from the eponymous movie starring Steve Martin.
Band wins local praise
Scher, who advocates for and promotes artists, says, “Louise has a beautiful voice, and Peter’s instrument has a nice, unusual sound.”
Linda Shoemaker, former director of Arlington Center for the Arts, also was impressed. “The group has a really interesting sound, with an unexpected combination of instruments. They’re very unique and play everything from standards to modern jazz.”
At a recent performance, music aficionado John Barry said, “I’d like to see them play together a lot more. Some of the subtleties are hard to come by, but they have my support.” His companion, Patty Parker, said, “This band is great, and we’re really enjoying ourselves.”
Information about a future planned show
Contacted earlier this month by YourArlington, Lehman mentioned via email that a subset of the full band, called The C#s Augmented and Diminished, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec.15, at the Roasted Granola.
“That’s right, we’re a smaller group this time – Louise Grasmere, singer/percussionist extraordinaire, and Peter Lehman playing theorbo (lute). We’re going to enjoy the intimate setting of Roasted Granola to play unplugged — songs from the heart with a delicious blend of subtle rhythm and complex harmony. For this part of the evening, special guest Linda Shoemaker will join us with a wonderful variety of hand drums. But that’s not all. For this evening [we will have] the amazing return of Louise on vocals and guitar and Linda on percussion, playing from the new set of original songs soon to be released on their upcoming album. Louise’s work is a beautiful blend of Americana, folk, blues and jazz, delivered with authenticity and exquisite vocal styling.”
Oct. 10, 2022: Art opening held at Roasted Granola
This news feature by YourArlington freelance writer Susan Gilbert was published Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.