Pittsburgh, PA – April 28th, 2025: Pittsburgh’s vibrant live music scene is getting a fresh boost as Maddy Lafferty and Danielle Mashuda, co-founders of Keystone Artist Connect, announce their acquisition of Club Cafe, a beloved South Side music venue. Joining them as partners in this new chapter are Read Connolly, Kristen Whitlinger, and Elliott Sussman, who will help usher in a new era for the intimate performance space known for spotlighting both emerging and established talent.
Club Cafe has been a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s independent music scene offering an up-close experience with artists across all genres. With their background in artist management, booking, and music industry networking, Lafferty and Mashuda bring a fresh vision to the venue, aiming to enhance its reputation while maintaining its signature charm.
Founded in 1999 by Marco and Paula Cardamone, Club Cafe has long been a staple of Pittsburgh’s live music scene, known for its intimate atmosphere and rich history. Since 2011, it has been operated by Michael Sanders of Opus One Productions, whose work also includes Margaux in East Liberty and producing concerts at venues including Stage AE and Mr. Smalls Theater. Over the years, Club Cafe has welcomed a wide range of artists—from rising local acts to major names like John Mayer, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, and Billy Strings. Now, under new leadership, Lafferty and Mashuda plan to introduce a daytime coffee house, food offerings, expanded booking opportunities, artist and deejay residencies, special events, and community-driven collaborations and initiatives.
Lafferty and Mashuda first crossed paths in 2019 while working for a local production company in Pittsburgh, PA. It was there they discovered a shared passion for the city’s vibrant arts community, collaborating with local organizations and artists. That connection ultimately inspired them to launch their first venture together—Keystone Artist Connect.
Lafferty and Mashuda have been influential contributors to Pittsburgh’s music scene for years, wearing many hats—from managing a roster of Pennsylvania-based artists to organizing and overseeing more than 100 live events annually across the city. Their work consistently highlights local and regional talent, reinforcing their deep commitment to the local music community.
The acquisition of Club Cafe represents a full-circle moment for the new team as Connolly and Whitlinger were the original minds behind the idea to create Keystone Artist Connect—an idea sparked over drinks at one of their favorite bars during Americanafest in Nashville. That same spirit of friendship, encouragement, and a shared love for music is what brought Lafferty and Mashuda into the industry, eventually leading them to this exciting new chapter. They wholeheartedly acknowledge that this milestone would not be possible without the support of their friends, families, and the local community. Their goal is to make Pittsburgh proud by keeping Club Cafe a space where all feel welcome—and where people can create the kind of lifelong memories and connections that inspired this journey in the first place.
More Information on the new team below:
Owners:
Maddy Lafferty and Danielle Mashuda- Lafferty and Mashuda have over 26 years of combined experience in the hospitality, arts, and entertainment fields. Lafferty and Mashuda are co-founders of Keystone Artist Connect, a women-owned and -operated business that is an all-inclusive liaison for local, regional, and touring acts, specializing in artist management and large-scale event production. Since founding their Pittsburgh-based company in 2022, Lafferty and Mashuda have partnered with local organizations, including WYEP, Revive Marketing, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, MWCDC, and many more. They have also produced showcases at national festivals including SXSW and Americanafest. Their mission is to elevate artists’ careers and help them achieve their visions. Recently, they have expanded their business to Texas which is led by industry professional Kelby Dru. They plan to expand to Nashville this summer.
Strategic Partners:
Read Connolly- Connolly has been a Pittsburgh-based musician for 18 years, specializing in the steel guitar. Since arriving in Pittsburgh in 2006, he has shared the stage with many of Pittsburgh’s finest musicians, and has opened for the Big Burgh 3: The Clarks, Donnie Iris, and Rusted Root.
Connolly has toured nationally with several artists, including Charles Wesley Godwin, JR Carroll, and Zach Bryan. He has recorded on several Grammy-nominated songs, including the Grammy-award winning “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves. He has been fortunate to share the stage with a variety of his musical heroes, including Bruce Springsteen, Maggie Rogers, Rhett Miller, and the Violent Femmes.
On top of performing and recording, Connolly has been a lecturer and instructor on steel guitar history and performance, including a stint as an adjunct professor in the music department at West Virginia University. After so many fond memories at Club Cafe, he is excited to take another role in the Pittsburgh music scene, and support the next generation of musicians through this historic venue.
Kristen Whitlinger- Whitlinger is the owner and lead designer of Two Wands Design, a Pittsburgh-based design company and partner of Keystone Artist Connect. Working with local and national musicians on building digital presence and tour graphics, Whitlinger has worked with artists such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Summer Dean, The War and Treaty, Cody Jinks and Wyatt Flores. Whitlinger is the creator and lead organizer of Women of Country PGH, a focused effort to produce diverse, feminine-lead country events in Pittsburgh. Whitlinger has previously worked in visual design and communications for a range of local organizations from arts to education.
Elliott Sussman- Sussman’s first show at a professional music venue was at Club Cafe in 2007. After spending the next five years as a touring musician, Sussman took to bartending, working his way from neighborhood dives to high end cocktail lounges. His work as a cocktail bartender led to him being featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, with Pittsburgh Magazine profiling him as “Pittsburgh’s Most Affable Bartender.” Sussman is also currently in his tenth season working as an usher at PNC Park for Pirates baseball games. To hear him tell it, “Every job I’ve ever had is exactly the same: it’s entertaining large groups of people in a unique environment and seeing to it that they have a wonderful time.”
In addition to its owners and partners, Club Cafe will be introducing the following full-time team members:
Cullen J. Sanchez: Club Cafe is excited to announce Cullen J. Sanchez as its new bar manager. A Pittsburgh native, Sanchez brings a deep passion for the city’s music, arts, and nightlife scene. With experience as a bartender, videographer, and writer, he has dedicated his career to uplifting local queer and working-class communities through his work. His creative vision and commitment to fostering inclusive spaces make him a perfect fit for Club Cafe as it enters a new chapter.
Wesley Peters: Club Cafe is proud to welcome Wesley Peters as its new Lead Sound Engineer. A Pittsburgh-based audio professional, musician, deejay, and producer– Wesley has built a reputation for delivering high-quality live sound experiences across the city’s music scene. With a deep passion for live performance and a keen ear for detail, he is dedicated to ensuring every show at Club Cafe sounds its best. His expertise and commitment to artists and audiences alike make him an exciting addition to the team.
Details on Club Cafe’s opening date, job opportunities, and programming will be announced in the coming months.