Ani DiFranco, one of the most inspirational singer-songwriters in the US, toured Australia in January and February.
DiFranco has written hundreds of songs, played thousands of shows worldwide, and has released over 20 albums under her independent record label. She had been performing for years with major record labels waiting to sign her up, but instead registered her own record label, Righteous Babe, in 1989.
DiFranco built her own grassroots following through word-of-mouth and selling her own tapes and CDs from the back of vans after gigs. As a fiercely independent woman, she completed her entire 2004 album Educated Guess by herself at home. References to her independence from major labels appear occasionally in her songs, including "The Million You Never Made".
DiFranco began minimising her carbon footprint before it was trendy with celebrities — from installing geothermal heating and cooling in the renovated church that her label operates from, to the use of organic inks on all the T-shirts she sells.
Although DiFranco's material is often autobiographical, it is also strongly political. Many of her songs tackle social justice issues such as racism, sexism, abuse, homophobia, reproductive rights, poverty and war with insight and compassion. This is partially responsible for DiFranco's popularity among politically active youth, who make up the majority of her audience at shows and provide an energy essential to the experience of live music.
DiFranco's intense lyrical skills are matched by strong touring efforts. With a voice that can rock the venue one minute and bare her soul the next, DiFranco produces a juxtaposition of fiery passion and gentle intimacy with a sound uniquely her own.
For fans of folk and rock music, DiFranco is a show not to be missed — next time she tours.