Caffè Lena Welcomes Janis Ian
as Their First Ever Artist-in-Residence
What: Janis Ian will serve as Caffè Lena’s first ever Artist-in-Residence, offering workshops, public conversations, mentorship opportunities, and special appearances.
Where: Caffè Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
When: August 2026
How: Registration and event information will be available soon.
Caffè Lena is honored to announce that legendary songwriter, author, and activist Janis Ian will serve as the venue’s first ever Artist in Residence. Throughout August 2026, Ian will be offering workshops, public conversations, mentorship opportunities, and special appearances.
Janis Ian’s relationship with Caffè Lena spans more than two decades. Most recently, Ian visited Caffè Lena for a screening of the acclaimed PBS American Masters documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, followed by an audience Q&A that drew fans from across the region.
Now, she returns for a month-long residency that will offer audiences and young musicians the rare opportunity to learn directly from one of America’s most influential songwriters.
Society’s child: My autobiography
New Updated Version available now
Janis Ian is proud to announce a newly revised edition of her acclaimed memoir, Society’s Child: My Autobiography, available now in ebook and paperback formats in the official Janis Ian store, as well as other online outlets. The inspiration for last year’s award-winning documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, the book features a new cover with new annotations, expanded with a new afterword by the author, and sees all but one of the names changed in the original publication adjusted to reflect the parties’ real names.
Throughout the fall Janis will be appearing in-person at selected screenings of the new documentary, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence. At most venues she will take part in a special question and answer event after the screening. She will also be available afterwards to meet people and sign things. Merchandise will be available, but you do not have to purchase anything to get a signature.
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence is now available via American Masters on PBS. You can also rent or buy the film on Apple TV, Prime Video, & YouTube TV, Google Play and Fandango at Home.
A SONG FOR CHANGE
Download a free MP3 or WAV file of “One In Million.”
A few years ago I sat down with Jess Leary, one of my favorite co-writers, and we decided to write an anthem. It felt like the world was getting stranger every day. People were scared, feeling hopeless.
Writing “One In a Million” made us feel hopeful. It reminded us that no matter how hard things got, we were not alone.
We are one, we are one in a million
We are one in a million strong
In my darkest night, I hold on to that light
We are one in a million strong
A while later, I was asked to perform at a San Francisco event called “Fight the Right.” When I found out Joan Baez would also be appearing, I asked if she’d sing it with me. Fortunately, Joan’s a quick study, because we only had time for one short run through.
We sang it twice that night, with fellow musician Anthony Peterson helping out and the audience joining in as soon as they’d learned the chorus.
A short while ago Joan’s long time personal assistant, Nancy Lutzow, let me know that she’d just uncovered a tape of us singing “One In a Million” at the San Francisco show. She sent me a copy and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. Sure, you can hear a couple of flubs – we’d only sung it through once! – but it was certainly nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it was the most hopeful thing I’d heard in a while. I contacted Joan to ask if she would be okay offering this as a free download, and it escalated from there.
My co-writer Jess jumped on board immediately. My webmaster, Steve Wilkison, created a video and artwork. Jeff Evans handled inserting the metadata and mastering. Joan and Nancy stayed involved every step of the way. It’s been a group effort from start to finish, and now I’m happy to include whoever reads this as part of our group.
Please download a free MP3 or WAV file of the track and a PDF of the sheet music. We encourage you to share the downloads, and make your own videos and recordings. It’s also available on major sites like Apple and Amazon, but they won’t let us offer things for free, so we’re charging the absolute minimum allowed.
At a time when it’s easy to lose hope, we want to remind people that our dreams are still attainable. We are still united in the pursuit of good. And each of us is just one of a million others who also refuse to give up. So stay strong. You are not alone.
#oneinamillion #staystrong #joanbaez #janisian #resist
Watch Joan talk about Janis in Varda Bar-Kar’s film Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, now streaming throughout North America and coming to PBS American Masters late June! Get information about live screenings and viewing options.
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence Film
Here’s the long-promised longer trailer for Breaking Silence – the hot news is that the film will be opening in theaters on March 28th. For more information or to sign up so you know when it’s playing near you, go to janisiandocumentary.com!
Watch the new video by Eric and Ulrika Bibb of
“The Love We Leave”
Words & music by Janis Ian & Jon Vezner
Visit Eric Bibb’s website
Visit Eric Bibb’s YouTube channel
New Video
September 12, 2022
Unfortunately, the laryngitis that forced the postponement of some spring dates has turned out to be more complicated than a simple, treatable laryngitis. There is vocal fold scarring; since it’s not due to polyps or singing incorrectly, the doctors can only speculate as to why, but treatments are very limited. And it would be many months before we’d know the outcome of any treatment.
It is most unlikely that I’ll ever sound like myself again.
I consider myself lucky that this is not life-threatening, though the loss in my own small world is staggering.
I’m going to take a few weeks to get used to this, then deal with the logistics of what to do with everything we’d prepared for the tour, like a zillion CDs… be patient, please.
Please contact the venues for refunds, and thank you all for your support and love.