Two top-name independent solo artists will arrive in Eugene for shows this weekend.
Ex-Soul Coughing leader Mike Doughty will appear at Taylor’s Bar and Grille Sunday, and singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco will come to the Cuthbert Amphitheater Monday.
Since she first began performing as a solo artist 10 years ago, DiFranco has built a rabid fan base through extensive touring.
Her show in Eugene on Sunday is part of a two-week tour of the western United States. She will also appear at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland on July 14.
DiFranco, 30, is touring to promote her new double album, “Revelling/Reckoning.” Released in April and more than two hours long, the album’s two discs feature both upbeat songs and acoustic guitar ballads.
At recent shows, DiFranco has performed many songs from “Revelling/Reckoning,” as well as a selection of her older material. She has been playing the piano for some songs at her concerts, but her main instrument is still the guitar, on which she has a unique percussive style.
“She puts on a good show,” said Sarah Fleming, a senior majoring in sociology and women’s studies. “She’s a great performer.”
In 1989, DiFranco started her own record label, Righteous Babe. She has released 16 of her own albums on Righteous Babe, including two with spoken-word artist Utah Phillips. Her solo albums include 1995’s “Not a Pretty Girl” and 1997’s live double album “Living in Clip.”
DiFranco’s Eugene appearance is one in a series of concerts at the Cuthbert this summer. The series started earlier in the week with a sold-out performance by Phil Lesh and Friends. Darrel Kau, the programming manager for the Hult Center, said there should be about 2,200 people at DiFranco’s concert, which seats about 4,500.
“She comes in with what she wants to do, and her fans love it,” said Kau.
Doughty is still relatively new to the title of solo artist. He began performing solo acoustic material after his popular band, Soul Coughing, broke up in March 2000 because of creative differences.
Soul Coughing released three albums on Warner Bros. Records in the mid-1990s. While 1994’s “Ruby Vroom” earned the band critical acclaim, 1996’s “Irresistible Bliss,” featuring the single “Super Bon Bon,” brought the band its first commercial success.
Doughty began putting together his solo album, “Skittish,” while Soul Coughing was still together. After the band broke up, Doughty finished the album, which is available at his Web site, superspecialquestions.com.
The 31-year-old performer has already achieved some success away from Soul Coughing by lending his vocals to electronic artist BT’s hit single “Never Gonna Come Back Down.” He is appearing at clubs, bars and colleges around the country, playing songs from both Soul Coughing and his solo album. Doughty is partial to improvisation in a live setting, often adding lines from other artists’ songs to his own songs.
Bjorn Estlund, the talent bar promoter at Taylor’s, said he is excited to bring a big-name artist to the bar, which has a 200-person capacity.
“For a Sunday night in the summertime, it’s already selling really well,” said Estlund, who estimated the show would sell out.
Tickets for both shows are available at the EMU Ticket Office.