La Divina Italian Cafe — A Local Haven for Songwriters and Live Music Lovers

Patrons soak in the sounds of local original music at La Divina Italian Cafe in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo courtesy of owner Mary LeBlanc.)

La Divina Italian Cafe has quietly become one of Baton Rouge’s most beloved listening rooms — a cozy, gelato-slinging café where original music takes center stage. What started as a hesitant experiment in live music has grown into a nurturing home for songwriters at La Divina Italian Cafe and attentive audiences who come to truly listen. With their commitment to showcasing only original, family-friendly music, La Divina has fostered a loyal community of artists and fans alike. Now, they’re turning the page with an exciting new chapter: the launch of “Songwriter Sundays” beginning July 6th, a weekly evening of live local music, and connection. We caught up with owner Mary LeBlanc to hear more about their journey, their unique vibe, and what makes this café so special to Baton Rouge’s music scene.

Tell us about your Original Music Gathering (OMG) nights — how did they get started, and what makes them special?

Mary: "Hosting live music at La Divina almost never happened. I insisted that "no one" would want to play our uber-small venue! We had a barista/friend at the time, a very talented musician who insisted we try it and the rest is history. We were approached to do a singer songwriter night early on. Live music at our venue MUST be original, non political, and PG-13: after all - we sell gelato and welcome audiences of all ages.

Our Original Music Gathering nights have become a wonderful source for local musicians to network, encourage each other and collaborate.

Red Stick Music's blog will be our FIRST MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT that we are MOVING and re-Branding Original Music Gathering! As of June 27th our Friday nights will come to a close.

We debut "Songwriter Sundays" on Sunday, July 6th with a SPECIAL INAUGURAL event full of fun and prizes for musicians and audience members alike! This will kick off our new music night which will take place EVERY Sunday 5p-7p.

Thursday nights have been and will continue to feature local singer songwriter shows....and we are continually honored to have such guests as Steve Judice, Ryan Harris, Clay Parker, Jodi James, Eric Schmitt, Peter Simon etc."

What kind of vibe can people expect when they come out for live music at La Divina?

Mary: "Our vibe is of attentive audiences who are fans of our guest's live music and really want to absorb the music.... uninterrupted. Fans who attend are really listening to the lyrics with limited chatter. Covers are never allowed. Our cafe offers supper, along with wine and beer. Coffee and gelato as well! I believe being a "different" venue than a bar attracts folks who prefer our atmosphere. I've done a lot of research into Austin Texas music venues which often are coffee cafes and non traditional music venues and I hope we are offering that different vibe to Baton Rouge."

What’s one surprising or memorable way supporting local songwriters has impacted La Divina or your community?

Mary: "In mid-February 2020 we were no longer allowed to offer dining inside the cafe, only take out. It could have been the end of live music at our cafe and perhaps the end of the cafe itself.

We were approached to host several local musicians and so we rented a huge tent outside and we were, (I believe) one of the first venues to bring back the music. It was so heartwarming to see folks distance and support local musicians. Some fans would back their cars into the parking lot and enjoy the live music from their vehicles."

Do you have any memorable performances or moments that really stand out?

Mary: "There are so many! We have done several student shows over the years and recently hosted the LSU Singer Songwriter Students of Eric Schmitt. The students were fantastic and the audience was stellar. We will continue these shows with one on August 21st and one September 25th (Thursdays, 6p-8p). LSU Student Emma Murphy is coordinating these shows for us and we are just blown away by the huge talent they bring into our little space!"

If someone’s never been to a songwriter event at La Divina, what’s one thing about the experience you think would surprise or delight them?

Mary: "On our Songwriter nights, I love that we have such an eclectic variety of talent... You may hear Blues from Uncle Chester, Harp with Carmela, Country, rock and more. We are family friendly and have included live music from teens and children as well! We are so blessed to have our regular host, Dan Broe, in attendance almost every week in support of the development of local singer songwriters."

We also reached out to Daniel Broe, a local musician and songwriter who has regularly hosted the songwriter nights at La Divina, for his perspective on what makes the café so special to Baton Rouge’s creative community. Here’s what he had to say:

Daniel: "LaDivina's for several years now has been offering a place, a safe space for local singer/songwriters and poets to bring their creations before an audience. Every artist knows that no matter how well crafted a piece might be, it's still in a draft stage until it's put out in front of an audience. The response and feedback that an artist receives is an invaluable part of honing their craft. LaDivina's is a treasure to the art community. From the painting of local artists on the walls to sounds of original music, LaDivina's is truly a gift."

La Divina Italian Cafe continues to be a warm and welcoming space for Baton Rouge’s songwriting community — where creativity, connection, and good vibes are always on the menu.

They host live local songwriter performances every Thursday evening, and are now moving their popular open songwriter gatherings from Fridays to Sundays with the launch of Songwriter Sundays, kicking off July 6th.

To learn more, check out ladivinaitaliancafe.com or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ladivinabatonrouge for the latest updates and event details.

Written by Caitlen Odell

Founder & Owner, Red Stick Music

Caitlen curates the Red Stick Music live music calendar with a focus on excellence, integrity, and community building. She’s passionate about supporting local artists and strengthening Baton Rouge through music.