Ani Di Franco Returns Right.

Ani DiFranco is probably as famous for being one of the first truly independent recording artists as for her music but don’t let that cause you to overlook the music.

Ani DiFranco has written hundreds of songs, played thousands of shows, captured the imaginations of legions of followers, and jammed with folkies, orchestras, rappers, rock and roll hall-of-famers, jazz musicians, poets, pop superstars, storytellers and a martial arts legend. She’s “fixed up a few old buildings” and minimized her carbon footprint before it was trendy – from installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in the renovated church that her label calls home to using organic inks on all the t-shirts she sells.

Mind you the lead she gave by managing to sell hundreds of thousands of records with selling her soul to a major label is now the standard by which artists as diverse as  Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and Australia’s John Butler Trio operate.

Di Franco herself seems more content these days to let the music take priority and less concerned with the mechanics of beating the system.

She’s  more than happy to trust like-minded people with the business and revel in the complete artistic freedom it provides. On her new album, Red Letter Year, she takes more advantage of this freedom than ever before. Conceived, sculpted and refined over the course of two years – a lifetime compared to a typical Ani recording session – the album is an impeccably crafted, multi-layered sonic achievement.

And while the extra time is a big reason for Red Letter Year’s captivating musical depths, the people in Ani’s life play an even bigger part – her partner and co-producer Mike Napolitano (Joseph Arthur, The Twilight Singers, Squirrel Nut Zippers) and her one-year-old daughter Petah Lucia Love, family and home are three of the album’s most prominent muses, resulting in a dozen songs that exude warmth and renewed vigor.

Adelaide
Wednesday January 28
Thebarton Theatre

* Venue*Tix – 8225 8888

Brisbane
Wednesday February 4
The Tivoli

* Ticketek – 132 849

Canberra
Monday February 2
Canberra Theatre

* Canberra Ticketing – 6275 2700

Melbourne
Friday January 30
Palais Theatre

* Ticketmaster – 136 100

Sydney
Tuesday February 3
Enmore Theatre

* Enmore Theatre Box Office – 9550 3666
* Ticketek – 132 849