Ani DiFranco

THE BARRICADES on the pavement outside Claridges are draped with small girls in big Dr Martins who are gazing at a door. The door is manned by policemen who are gazing at the girls. The late afternoon sun drops behind Oxford Street and, like a displaced spaghetti western, the stand-off continues, until a car pulls up outside. A small, blonde woman decants. Ani DiFranco (pronounced Arnie, as in Schwarzenegger) strides up to the door.