Image - the speaker and her book cover
San Francisco

Joan Baez: Legendary Artist & Activist

Overflow WaitlistOnline-only Tickets

In-person tickets in the main auditorium are SOLD OUT; online-only tickets are still available, and you can add your name to the waitlist for overflow seating in the Rembe Auditorium.

If you are not a member yet, now is the time to join our community and receive the great benefits of membership. Members get ticket discounts, special programs, early notice of big events, and more; plus, your membership helps sustain our nonprofit organization's work. Please join! You can become a monthly sustaining member for just $13 a month.

Joan Baez returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs nearly 45 years after she came here to discuss “Human Rights in the Eighties.” She's coming back not for a performance but for an in-depth talk about her personal thoughts and life experiences—the person behind the stardom.

Baez has been writing poetry for decades, but she’s never before shared it publicly. Now in her book of poems When You See My Mother: Ask Her to Dance Baez shares poems about her contemporaries (such as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, and Jimi Hendrix), reflections from her childhood, personal thoughts, and cherished memories of her family, including pieces about her younger sister, singer-songwriter Mimi Fariña. Speaking to the people, places, and moments that have had the greatest impact on her art, this collection is an inspiring personal diary in the form of poetry.

Join us in-person to hear her discuss how, for the first time ever, she has shared revealing pivotal life experiences that shaped an icon, offering a never-before-seen look into the reminiscences and musings of a great artist.

Post live music provided by CHAKANA.

Notes

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

Baez photo by Dana Tynan.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Mon, Jan 27 / 6:00 PM PST

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Joan Baez

Joan Baez

Artist; Activist; Author, When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance

Image - Ben Fong-Torres

In Conversation with Ben Fong-Torres

Music Journalist; Former Editor and Writer, Rolling Stone

Image - Robert Melton

Hosted by Robert Melton

Co-chair, Arts Member-led Forum, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California

Format

5:15 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program  
7 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)

In-person:
$35
$60 with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (no book)
Online:
$10
$36 with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (no book)