NEKO Case brings her individualistic take on classic country rock, cowgirl honkytonk, vintage pop and a twist of Southern Gothic to the Barbican next week. The Virginia–born, Washington State-raised honorary Canadian makes her Barbican debut in support

NEKO Case brings her individualistic take on classic country rock, cowgirl honkytonk, vintage pop and a twist of Southern Gothic to the Barbican next week.

The Virginia-born, Washington State-raised "honorary Canadian" makes her Barbican debut in support of her acclaimed new album Middle Cyclone.

Case is prolific, dividing her time between the Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers and her own projects.

She recorded and toured for several years as Neko Case & Her Boyfriends before deciding to perform solely under her name.

Although she is recognised as a distinctive songwriter, she has also recorded covers of songs by artists such as Tom Waits, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Scott Walker, Randy Newman, Queen, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

Protective of her artistic independence, Case tries to combine punk's do-it-yourself ethic with a strong business sense, and a clear focus on her art.

She has spurned offers from major record labels, preferring to keep control of her music in the company of independent record companies like Mint Records in Canada, and Bloodshot and Anti in the United States.

The strategy paid off when Middle Cyclone entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3 - the highest-placed independent release of 2009 so far.

She plays at the Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, on Thursday September 17.

Visit barbican.org.uk or call the box office on 0845 120 7550.