Caffè Lena Welcomes Janis Ian as Their First Ever Artist-in-Residence for August 2026
Workshops, conversations, songwriting, mentorship, and more with one of America’s most influential songwriters.
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: Information is available on the Caffè Lena website.
Saratoga Springs, NY (May 14, 2026) – 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.
“There are plenty of residencies for classical musicians, and jazz musicians, but folk artists and singer-songwriters are still considered ‘Just for fun’ rather than serious craftspeople and artists. That needs to change,” Ian states.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to learn first-hand from a wide variety of artists. Musicians and writers like Odetta and Frank Loesser. Actors and teachers from Stella Adler to Chao Shao Lin of the Peking Opera Company. Ballet and movement teachers like Dora Krannig of the Royal Ballet and David Craig. Authors and poets like Jane Hirshfield and Anne McCaffrey, who become close friends and bring an entirely different lens to lyrics and songwriting.”
“I’ll be 75 years old when I begin teaching at Caffè Lena this year. I was twelve when my first song was published. That means I can bring 63 years of experience in all parts of the music business to the metaphorical table. And I intend to pass on as much knowledge and experience as possible, from guitar tricks to contracts, from songwriting to performance physicality. It’s exciting to think that the knowledge others were generous enough to share with me, can help artists and music lovers beyond my own small world.”
The centerpiece of the residency is “Janis Ian Explains The World,” a four-part workshop series taking place August 7, 14, 21, and 28. Designed for songwriters, artists, creatives, and curious minds alike, the sessions will explore songwriting, storytelling, creativity, the music business, and the lived experiences behind a lifetime in music.
Ian will also appear as a special guest for several signature Caffè Lena programs throughout the month, including:
• Caffè Lena’s Songwriting Club with Special Guest Janis Ian — August 8
• Rochmon Record Club with Special Guest Janis Ian — August 26
• Caffè Lena Open Mic with Guest Host Janis Ian — August 31
Ian will also appear as a guest speaker for the Caffè Lena School of Music’s Troubadour In Training Summer Camp for ages 14–17. Students enrolled in the camp will participate in a special open discussion with Ian on August 6, offering young songwriters a rare opportunity to hear firsthand about artistic life, creative discipline, and building a career with integrity.
Few artists are better equipped to guide these conversations. Ian’s groundbreaking career began in her teens with the controversial and socially conscious song “Society’s Child.” She went on to become one of the most respected songwriters of her generation with beloved works including “At Seventeen,” “Jesse,” and a catalog spanning folk, pop, jazz, and beyond. Over the course of her career, Ian has received 10 GRAMMY Award nominations and has won 2 GRAMMY Awards.
“Janis Ian exemplifies our best hopes for songs. She shows how a powerful song can change how people see the world,” said Sarah Craig, Executive Director of Caffè Lena. “For more than five decades she has been using her gifts as a songwriter to challenge the status quo. Now that she is retired from performing, she is looking at ways to pass her hope and her methods to the next generation. To have her immersed in our community of young people just starting out on their musical journey is the greatest honor we can imagine.”
Founded in 1960, Caffè Lena remains one of America’s most storied listening rooms and a vital center for folk, roots, and independent music. Artist residencies like this one continue the venue’s long tradition of fostering meaningful connections between artists and audiences while supporting the next generation of songwriters.
About Janis Ian
Janis Ian is one of America’s most influential songwriters, known for her fearless honesty, literary songwriting, and groundbreaking career spanning more than six decades. She first gained national attention as a teenager with “Society’s Child,” a bold song confronting interracial relationships in 1960s America, and later earned international acclaim with classics like “At Seventeen” and “Jesse.” A multiple GRAMMY Award winner, author, activist, and mentor, Ian has spent her life using music to explore identity, justice, vulnerability, and the human experience with uncommon depth and compassion. For more information, please visit the official Janis Ian website and watch her speech at Berklee College of Music.
About Caffè Lena
Our mission is to provide music, connection and learning from a legendary venue. It is widely recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. The Library of Congress calls Caffè Lena “An American treasure,” and it’s been recognized by The GRAMMY Foundation for its important contributions to the development of American music.
Information is available on the Caffè Lena website.