Ani DiFranco will compile a new live album, tentatively titled "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughing," from tracks recorded on her recent U.S. tour, which wrapped up Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee. The singer/songwriter plans to release the album in the fall.

The set -- which will be the DiFranco's second live collection, joining 1997's Living in Clip -- will feature "Self Evident," a poem she wrote about being in New York during the September 11th attacks.

Also on her release schedule is a film, Render: Spending Time With Ani DiFranco, due in stores on DVD and VHS June 11th. Directed by Hillary Goldberg, the film, says DiFranco, features the standard live footage, but also examines "the contextual stuff about a lot of the political work that accompanies and surrounds the music. It all stems from the songs and the content therein." Also included in the 120-minute feature are performances of the unreleased songs "In the Way," and "Slide," both likely to show up on DiFranco's next studio effort.

AUGUSTIN K. SEDGEWICK
(May 6, 2002)