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Biography
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990. While she has been known as the “Little Folksinger,” her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica and even more distant sounds. Her collaborators have included everyone from Utah Phillips to legendary R&B saxophonist Maceo Parker to Prince. She has shared stages with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, Greg Brown, Billy Bragg, Michael Franti, Chuck D., and many more. Her most recent album Binary was released in June 2017 on Righteous Babe Records and a memoir is forthcoming from Viking Books.
Rejecting the major label system has given her significant creative freedom. She has referenced her staunchly-held independence in song more than once, including in "The Million You Never Made" (Not a Pretty Girl), which discusses the act of turning down a lucrative contract, "The Next Big Thing" (Not So Soft), which describes an imagined meeting with a label head-hunter who evaluates the singer based on her looks, and "Napoleon" (Dilate), which sympathizes sarcastically with an unnamed friend who did sign with a label. After recording with Ani in 1999, Prince described the effects of her independence. "We jammed for four hours and she danced the whole time. We had to quit because she wore us out. After being with her, it dawned on me why she's like that – she's never had a ceiling over her."
Her lyrics are rhythmic and poetic, often autobiographical, and strongly political. “Trickle Down” discusses racism and gentrification, while “To The Teeth” speaks about the need for gun control, and “In or Out” questions society’s traditional sexuality labels. Most recently, the 2016 single "Play God" has become a battle cry for reproductive rights. Rolling Stone said of her in 2012, "The world needs more radicals like Ani DiFranco: wry, sexy, as committed to beauty and joy as revolution."
Over the years she's performed at countless benefit concerts, donated songs to many charity albums, and given time and energy to many progressive causes. She has learned from and demonstrated beside Gloria Steinem, Jesse Jackson and Dennis Kucinich. In 2004, she marched in the front row of the March for Women's Lives along with Margaret Cho, Janeane Garofalo, Whoopi Goldberg, and many others, later performing on the main stage. She has beaten the drum for voter registration and turnout with "Vote Dammit" tours in multiple presidential election years, including most recently in 2016. She's currently on the board of Roots of Music, an organization that provides at-risk youth with support and musical education in New Orleans, and the creative council of EMILY’s List, which helps elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.
As an iconic songwriter and social activist, she has been the inspiration for woman artists and entrepreneurs for over two decades. She has been featured on the covers of SPIN, Ms., Relix, High Times, and many others for her music and activism. She is the idol of empowered women who came of age in the 90s and continues to bring younger fans into her fold. From Alice Walker to Amy Schumer, Ani is respected by wordsmiths across milieux and generations. She blazed the trail for self-directed artist careers and has been cited by musicians from Prince to Bon Iver as an inspiration to release their own art outside of the major label system.
Ani has been the recipient of many honors and awards, including a Grammy for best album package (Evolve), the Woman of Courage Award from the National Organization for Women, the Gay/Lesbian American Music Award for Female Artist of the Year, and the Woody Guthrie Award. At the 2013 Winnipeg Folk Festival she received their prestigious Artistic Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg. In 2017, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from A2IM (a nonprofit trade organization that represents independent record labels) and the Outstanding Achievement for Global Activism Award from A Global Friendship.
Live reviews
Ani DiFranco’s do-it-yourself style ethics puts her in a league of her own. She has always been an independent person, creating her own record label and performing solo. Her steadfast ambition and her strong opinions are sure to emit from her passionate performances.
When Ani DiFranco wants to get a message across she intends on presenting it void of all distraction. She is usually the only person on stage during her performances and comes equipped with her acoustic guitar and her clever, poignant lyrics. There is usually no theatric elements to the show except a single spotlight shining right on Ani DiFranco to allow her performance to be illuminated. Although Ani DiFranco can create catchy melodies on her guitar, she usually uses her guitar as a means for rhythm. Her guitar has a deep resonance as she aggressively strums her guitar, but her strong vocals penetrate through the rhythm of the guitar to form the melody. She has an angelic voice that captivates the audience immediately and forces them to pay attention to the lyrics. Her style of music is somewhat similar to Joni Mitchell, which relies on the bareness of the vocals to deliver the emotions of the musical performance. Her lyrics are often very sophisticated and witty, consisting of uses of metaphors, word play, and irony. She also gets interesting sounds by tuning her guitar in alternate tunings and playing her guitar in staccato like rhythms. Although she is generally looked at as a folk artist she has ventured over into many other musical styles such as jazz, punk, and funk music. The punk influence in her music can be detected with her rapid strumming style and intense delivery.
Ani DiFranco’s performance is more than just a woman on stage strumming a guitar. She is a driving force behind a kind of music that will grab you by the ears and make you pay attention to the captivating music and lyrics that she creates.
wjmcc
Do you Love her Lyrics? Want to Sing Along? Get yourself out on this tour!
I've been a fan of Ani's work for over 20 years now and have seen dozens of shows. I love the experience of being right up near the stage with all that great feminist energy in the crowd, and her lyrics and empowering message sticks with me long after the show is over.
This particular show was more Sing-Along than some of the previous shows I've attended, which is FUN but there was so much of it this time around, I found myself a little distracted by all the other voices in the room. Perhaps this wasn't my Very Favorite Ani Show of All Time, but still an emboldening and enriching experience being with My Tribe and enjoying my favorite artist.
christal-kneer
Ani was powerful as always.
It has been years since I have seen her in person and it was good to see her again. Thevenue was really Nice it was small and quaint fairy difficult day for a concert it was very hot inside there was no air to flow through even on I was overwhelmed on stage
voodooartboy
Ani is simply amazing. Powerful, thought provoking, and inspiring, all while delivering positive energy. Very honest and sincere with her audience. This was the first time I have seen her in concert, and I can say I will be looking to go again, as it was a blissful experience.
cgonzalezalcala
Ani is always amazing. Her sound and voice are incredible. I've been going to bed concerts for years and am touched by a different song every single time. I will continue to support her music and go to her shows whenever she comes to Madison!
nicki-seago
Fantastic show!!! I would have stayed there for another couple of hours!!
The venue is very nice however I would have preferred to stand and dance.
Overall note: great event and spectacular show - Ani DiFranco to be seen again and again.
Sesteves
A good show. Hadn't seen her since 1990s and it was interesting to see how she has changed. Enjoyed it most when Chastity Brown joined her on stage. I wish the music level sometimes didn't drown out her voice though.
michael-d-geschwind
Ani is always amazing. I love her every time I see her. She puts on a great show. The Pabst Theater is a beautiful venue and the staff was very friendly.
nicki-seago
