When music historians look back at this time period, the sheer force that is Ani DiFranco will earn a spot in their books.
DiFranco, who performs tonight in Redmond, is equal parts singer-songwriter and activist who admires Woody Guthrie and his friends who sang about more than romantic love’s trials and tribulations.
The punk folksinger believes that a signature of American cultural expression is the songwriting concept of addressing power struggles, movements and important ideas and events.
Her new album, “Reprieve,” tells the world how she feels about today’s major issues, following in Guthrie’s footsteps. It almost didn’t happen; DiFranco nearly lost the master recordings to Hurricane Katrina.
DiFranco’s songs can attract the ’60s crowd and hit college charts in the same breath, and she is still fiercely independent as the day she drained her bank account and borrowed from friends to finance her first album.
The musician started her own record company (Righteous Babe Records), sold more than 100,000 recordings, produces her own records and does the artwork. She’s also an inspiration to thousands of talented musicians who would be ignored by corporate labels but are passionate about sharing their songs.
Sonny Landreth: Expressive Louisiana singer-songwriter with memorable story songs is best known for his slide work. He performs tonight in Seattle. Landreth’s latest CD, “The Road We’re On,” was Grammy-nominated in the Best Contemporary Blues category and was called “a killer record” by Bonnie Raitt.
Sympathy Cards: A rare performance by the a cappella music-comedy duo (Nan Clifford, Cathy Sorbo) happens Saturday in Seattle. The two first performed in 1982 (their only three songs at a Shoreline talent showcase) and periodically reunite for a show. Clifford and Sorbo were the Northwest’s first stand-up a capella comedy duo.
Barley Audible Music Festival: Celebrate Redhook Brewery’s 25th anniversary with several bands Saturday in Woodinville. Headliner is Harvey Danger, which had a power-pop hit with “Flagpole Sitta” in 1998. Also performing is The Ruby Doe, drawing praise from critics for “Always,” and Slender Means, whose songs from “Neon and Ruin” have pulled regular radio play locally.
Bowling for Soup: Texas band earned a Grammy nomination in 2003 for Best Performance Pop by a Duo or Group for the power-pop “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.” The next gig is Tuesday in Seattle. After a few years on their own, the musicians were picked up by Jive Records (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys).
Lee Ritenour: Sounds from South Africa and Brazil show up on Ritenour’s new “Smoke n’ Mirrors” CD, as well as voices from those countries. The Grammy-winning jazz guitarist performs Thursday through Aug. 27 in Seattle. Pianist Dave Grusin, a double-Grammy winner in 1989, will also perform.
Kenny Rankin: The guitarist and singer-songwriter has a two-show stop in Seattle on Tuesday and Wednesday. His ability to capture the emotional content of a song crosses genres, and influences on his work come from around the world. He played on Bob Dylan’s “Bringing It Back Home” album and can deliver songs from jazz standards to Beatles classics.
Richie Havens: Thirty-seven years after his legendary performance at Woodstock (he played for three hours while the festival’s logistics were being unraveled), Havens still plays songs that move him. He’s performing Sunday in Seattle. Gruff voice, open tunings and percussive guitar style are his trademarks. His latest, “Grace of the Sun,” includes a new version of “Woodstock.”
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