Ani Difranco to Return to Capitol Center for the Arts, 11/23

Ani DiFranco brings her unique sound to the Capitol Center for the Arts Sunday, November 23, at 7:30pm. Joining Ani will be Todd Sickafoose on bass and Terence Higgins on drums.

While DiFranco defines herself proudly as a folk singer, few folk singers could count among their collaborators artists as diverse as Pete Seger, Prince, Chuck D (of Public Enemy), Bruce Springsteen, the Buffalo Philharmonic, Cyndi Lauper, and Gillian Welch. Ani's songs such as "Not a Pretty Girl" and "Untouchable Face" incorporate powerful - often brutally honest lyrics with a highly original acoustic guitar style that few in the world can emulate. Ani's unique style, outspoken lyrics, and style have made her one of the most iconic artists of her generation. Over the course of more than 20 albums, including the live double CD Living in Clip (1997) and the two-disc career retrospective Canon (2007), as well as the latest one, ¿Which Side are You On? (2012), Ani has never stopped evolving, experimenting, testing the limits of what can be said and sung.

Ani has been honored with Grammy awards and multiple nominations, as well as awards from the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards, the Planned Parenthood Award for Media Excellence, the Gibson Guitar Award for Best Acoustic Performance, The National Organization of Women Woman of Courage Award, the Woody Guthrie Awards, and others.

Born in Buffalo, New York in 1970, Ani spent part of her twenties in New York City, then returned to her hometown where she established first a business office and then a performance venue called Babeville as the twentieth century ground to a halt and the twenty-first one revved up. For much of the last decade she's been based in New Orleans - but at her core she's always seen herself as "a traveler," covering pretty much the four corners of the earth by now, both solo and with her band. (There's less corner-covering these days, now that she's consciously slowing down a bit and raising two kids with partner and co-producer Mike Napolitano, but she still gets around just fine, playing venues like Madison Square Garden for Pete Seeger's ninetieth birthday bash and another star-studded lineup at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan for Wavy Gravy's seventy-fifth.)

Beyond her musical innovations, Ani DiFranco has been a pioneer in the business of music, refusing every major label deal offered to her throughout decades performing - even at a time when there was no iTunes or internet. DiFranco instead created her own Righteous Babe record label, an independent operation that allowed her the freedom to pursue projects that might have never made it through the label system. The choice to produce her own records has never hindered her career, and, in fact, Ani DiFranco continues to play to sold out houses throughout the world.

Tickets for Ani DiFranco's performance on November 23 are available now by calling 603-225-1111, online at www.ccanh.com, and at the box office, located at 44 South Main Street, Concord, NH 03301, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Saturday hours after Labor Day) Tickets: $43 Gold Circle, $38 Orchestra/Mezzanine/Balcony.

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