Singer/songwriter/feminist/activist/author Ani DiFranco is commemorating the 25th Anniversary of her ninth studio album, the iconic Little Plastic Castle, with a remix of the title track by Tune-Yards. On June 23, DiFranco’s label Righteous Babe Records is offering a 25th anniversary edition remastered by Heba Kadry, with the addition of three bonus bed tracks mixed by Tchad Blake, and a new CD package and first-time release on vinyl (2 LPs). Listen to the “Little Plastic Castle” Tune-Yards remix via DSPs HERE and watch the remix video directed by Zeo Boekbinder HERE. Pre-order Little Plastic Castle HERE.
About the remix, Tune-Yard’s Merrill Garbus shares, “The spirit of “Little Plastic Castle” feels so ripe and ready for these times: spitting joy and dance into the faces of those who would deny us those things. As someone who has many times chanted these lyrics back to Ani from the audience, it was a pure honor to bring a new version into the world of 2023.”
DiFranco says, “I love this remix. I love Tune-Yards and all things Merrill. I have been in the song making game for almost 40 years now (I wrote my first songs at 14) and I’ve learned that some songs have these amazing journeys and each version is just another version along the way- including the original. “Little Plastic Castle” and the album that took its name have been on a fantastic journey, for which I feel very blessed, and I don’t know about you, but this version is my new favorite! thanks Merrill- you are so alive in your art- thanks for bringing that vitality to my song.”
In addition, the archives have unearthed rare footage of an original video for “Little Plastic Castle” from 1998. Ani notes, “We tried to make a claymation video for the song back in 1998, it never did see the light of day.” For a look back at that moment in time, watch the footage HERE.
Chosen as one of the “Greatest Albums Made By Women” by NPR in 2017, Little Plastic Castle was also DiFranco’s highest charting album to date on the Billboard charts and led to her third Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance – Female (“Glass House”). LPC has proven to have an enduring legacy as DiFranco regularly incorporates six songs from the album (the title track, “Fuel,” “Gravel,” “As Is,” “Two Little Girls”, and “Swan Dive”) into her live shows. With LPC, DiFranco’s words still deeply resonated with her engaged fanbase, while also exposing the artist to a wider audience, who eagerly got on board with her independent, outspoken style. And with greater commercial success came new challenges DiFranco had to navigate.
DiFranco will kick off a round of Fall tour dates, beginning September 8 in Viroqua, WI. A full list of dates are below and, on her website HERE.
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990. While she has been known as the “Little Folksinger,” her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica and even more distant sounds. Her collaborators have included everyone from Utah Phillips to legendary R&B saxophonist Maceo Parker to Prince. She has shared stages with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Billy Bragg, Michael Franti, Chuck D., and many more. Her most recent albums include 2021’s Revolutionary Love and the July 2022 25th Anniversary Edition reissue of her iconic live album Living In Clip, both on her own label Righteous Babe Records. Her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was released in May 2019 by Viking Books and was a New York Times Top 10 best seller. Her debut children’s book The Knowing is out now.
Ani DiFranco Tour Dates
FALL 2023
9/8 – Viroqua, WI – Historic Temple Theatre – SOLD OUT
9/9 – Urbana, IL – ELLNORA / The Guitar Festival
9/10 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
9/12 – Eau Claire, WI – RCU Theatre
9/13 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
9/15 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
9/16 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
9/17 – Hammondsport, NY – Pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vineyards
9/19 – Waterville, ME – Waterville Opera House
9/20 – Burlington, VT – The Flynn
9/22 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
9/23 – New York, NY – (le) poisson rouge – SOLD OUT
9/24 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot