Pop Ani difranco

Although still only 28, the diminutive and forthrightly feminist folk rocker, Ani DiFranco (right), who is further distinguished by her amount of body ink and piercings, is on her twelfth album. She plays two UK shows in support of her current live CD, Up Up Up Up Up Up (Cooking Vinyl), which follows hard on the heels of her acclaimed Little Plastic Castle from last year. In recent years, she's become more musically adventurous, adding jazz and go-go influences to her largely acoustic sound. A regular feature on the covers of US music magazines, she's sure to attract a huge crowd of North Americans along with her growing UK fanbase to these shows.

Shepherd's Bush Empire, London W12 (0171-771 2000) tonight and tomorrow

Tim Perry