Ani DiFranco at The Great Hall

Ani DiFranco is someone who, according to Lennon’s Imagine’s standard, is and has been a dreamer for most of her career. From living alone after becoming an emancipated minor at the age of 15, to starting her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, at the age of 18, to performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, to becoming a Feminist icon, DiFranco has been writing her lyrics, placed on the wings of her acoustic guitar based music, to express and share her ideas and ideals to millions across the more privileged parts of the world, including Toronto where, as she mentioned after finishing her first song of an hour half plus long set at The Great Hall, she keeps coming back to. 

Though not close to sold out, it was the intimacy of the show that made it a memorable night for the audience of men and women of different ages, races, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. The night started with Garnet Rogers, singer/songwriter and also DiFranco’s trusted guitar tech and sound mixer. It was nearly an hour later when Ani DiFranco entered the stage through welcoming applauses and cheers. She then began her nearly two-hours long set of solo performance with outspoken in-between- songs communication with her loving fans who simply couldn’t get enough of her music, her guitar playing, her voice, and herself. A night of lyrics and music with a respected artist who’s been exploring and expressing her wide-ranging interest in social, political, and cultural causes, through her voice, lyrics, and music. 

Thanks to Live Nation Ontario for media access.