Ani Difranco News

It has been a pleasure to watch Ani DiFranco grow as a songwriter and performer over these past - oh man, is it really 20 years now? From her humble beginnings as an "open mic" artist, to her arrival as independent music figurehead and DIY icon, it's all been good.

Ani DiFranco is a legend in her own right. After nearly 20 years in the music business, DiFranco has released 16 live albums and 18 studio albums, her latest being 2008's "Red Letter Year." DiFranco's prolific release of live albums may be due to her sentiment that live music is real music.

A VIRTUOSO guitarist with a hypnotic performance style, Jeff Lang has carved out a unique niche for his music, which transcends the boundaries of traditional folk, blues, country and other roots music.

When Ani DiFranco released her latest studio album, 2008's "Red Letter Year,'' critics were quick to classify the LP as the singer's "happy record.'' And while there is a sense of domestic tranquility to be found on the lush disc, like most things related to DiFranco, it's not that simple.

MARTINA McBRIDE Amid last year's chatter about a pair of blond country girls next door , McBride released "Shine,'' one of her strongest country-pop records in recent memory.

Yuri Gagarin, Oh Yuri Gagarin/ He rode into the sky/ Courtesy Steven Stone A tribute album to Utah Phillips contains dozens of song by dozens of artists, including Ani DiFranco, shown here with Phillips.

The charm levels of Portland's The Ascetic Junkies are totally off the charts. They were crazily endearing when they opened for Warpaint at Sam Bond's last fall, and - hurrah! - they're just as appealing on record.

The Strand Theatre in Rockland will welcome Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, and songwriter Ani DiFranco to its stage on Saturday January 23rd at 8pm for an evening of folk and alternative rock.

Angela Reed calls herself an acoustic songstress and perhaps that should sum it up for this singer, who has one of those powerful voices that is hard to categorize.

TWO revered singer songwriters from the USA play the Glens Centre's first gig of the year, this Saturday, January 16 at 8.30pm. Erin McKeown and Anais Mitchell have been much lauded over in the States for their energetic yet thoughtful brand of song-writing, not least by one Ani DiFranco, the acclaimed folk-punkette who formed her Righteous Babe ...

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Guitarist Lew London, artistic coordinator and audio-technology teacher at Charter Tech High School for the Performing Arts, contributed to an album that has been nominated for a Grammy award for best traditional folk album.

Talented singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco has added a second Fredericton performance to her touring schedule, after tickets for her upcoming concert sold out soon after going on sale.

Ani DiFranco returns to Des Moines in April Folk singer Ani DiFranco makes her first Des Moines stop in several years, taking the stage at Hoyt Sherman Place on April 17.

Folk singer Ani DiFranco makes her first Des Moines stop in years, playing Hoyt Sherman Place April 17.

Cambridge-based singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker has toured nationally and purportedly written more than 400 songs.

20 in Rochester, NY, again backed by Todd Sickafoose on upright bass and Allison Miller on drums.

This cutaway folk guitar projects sweetness, clarity and volume. The Alvarez Yairi ADY1 Ani DiFranco signature guitar has an extra-deep mahogany body with a Canadian cedar top.

Gordon Bok, far left, and The January Men are among the local and regional performers involved in "Singing Through The Hard Times a ' A Tribute to Utah Phillips," which has been nominated for a Grammy Award.

"Singing Through the Hard Times - A Tribute to Utah Phillips" has been nominated for a Grammy.

New shows, Hot tickets Two big new shows, Ani DiFranco and moe., have been announced for the Harro East Ballroom, 155 Chestnut St.