Ani DiFranco
Dublin National Concert Hall
22nd January, 2011

Folk icon is a hard status to achieve, but with her spunky message and driving anthems, Ani DiFranco fully merits the label. Her powerful solo tirade against injustice are always eloquently presented and, crucially, tightly performed. Coming on to her anticorporate marketing Fuel, she had her hardcore fans on their feet from the outset. But over the course of two hours, she managed to win over waiverers too. DiFranco exudes passion for performance with her staccato guitar and clever lyrics, and with an infectious smile, she worked the crowd, conveying her message of social change without being preachy. Rich, nasal vocals suited She Says, Unrequited, Angry Anymore and unreleased new songs, such as Promiscuous and If You’re Not. Even her interpretation of the anthem, Which Side Are You On?, proved powerful and rousing. A great night from the folk-punk mistress.