Ani DiFranco in Santa Cruz

Ani DiFranco is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Buffalo in 1970. She established an independent career through her own Righteous Babe Records, writing folk and alternative rock shaped by percussive acoustic guitar and politically direct lyrics. Her best-known work includes “32 Flavors,” “Untouchable Face” and the albums Not a Pretty Girl, Dilate and Little Plastic Castle. The 1997 double album Living in Clip drew on performances recorded during her 1995 and 1996 touring, documenting the guitar-led concerts at the center of her live work. A 2002 concert at Carnegie Hall was later issued as an official live album. In 2024, she made her Broadway debut as Persephone in Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Valerie June is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, born in Jackson, Tennessee, and raised in Humboldt. Her music ranges across folk, blues, country, gospel, soul and R&B. Her best-known records include Pushin’ Against a Stone, The Order of Time and The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, while “Workin’ Woman Blues,” “Astral Plane” and “Call Me a Fool” are among her signature songs. In 2013, Valerie June opened for Jake Bugg on a UK tour, played Bonnaroo and performed before the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park in London. Her later festival appearances included Newport Folk Festival and Pickathon. Her concerts feature her singing and playing guitar and banjo alongside a backing band. In 2017, she also opened selected North American tour dates for Norah Jones.