Groups excited to close lineup at Sundance ASCAP Cafe

For years, the ASCAP Music Cafe has been a staple at the Sundance Film Festival. It's a place where festival credential holders can sit back and hear tunes and network with other industry types.

The Gin Blossoms, Phil Vassar, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Wynnona, Damien Rice and Rachel Yamagata have performed.

Today, two artists who have never attended Sundance will close out this year's ASCAP Cafe lineup — Guggenheim Grotto and Lenka.

For the waifish Australian-based singer Lenka, the gig came as a surprise.

"I found out two weeks ago that I was playing at the ASCAP Cafe," she said during a phone call from a stop in Portland, Ore. "I have never been to Sundance and have always wanted to know what happens up there. And I'll get to find out, but right now, I'm looking at it as just another gig. But it would be nice to meet a filmmaker who wants me to be in a movie."

Since her self-titled CD was released late last year, spurred on with the catchy and upbeat piano-based single "The Show," (which can be heard on TV's "Ugly Betty" and Old Navy commercials), Lenka (last name Kripac) has seen her popularity take off with listeners of all ages, which surprised her.

"In my home in Australia, the fans are mostly college-aged," she said. "But here, my fans range from 9-year-old little girls to moms and dads and even 60-year-old grandparents."

And that's perfectly fine with her.

"It's nice to see people of all ages coming to my shows," she said. "And to me it's especially gratifying to see teenage daughters and their mothers not arguing and enjoying my music together."

Currently, her CD is No. 12 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart.

"I like the fact that I'm a solo artist doing my own thing," Lenka said. "It's nice to be my own artist and not a singer in someone else's band like I have been throughout the years. And I like the fact that my music is pop, but not overly produced and polished. My goal is to walk the line between pop and underground, like Bjork. I consider her a pop artist, although her songs are very different."

The Guggenheim Grotto will play the slot before Lenka plays the final show at ASCAP Cafe.

Kevin May said he doesn't know what to expect when he and bandmate Mick Lynch get to Park City this afternoon.