Album Notes

When Yukon songwriters Kim Barlow and Anne Louise Genest discovered a shared joy in the string band sounds and story songs of Southern old time music, they joined their considerable musical forces (Juno-nominated Barlow on clawhammer banjo/vocals and Genest on guitar/vocals) with those of Alaskan Lindy Jones (upright bass/vocals) to form Annie Lou. Vancouver fiddler Meredith Bates has recently joined the band to round out the roster.

Old time music is based in instrumental, vocal, and songwriting traditions. Annie Lou is faithful to these, with stringband instrumentation, rich vocal harmonies, and original songwriting by Genest and Barlow that is fresh and new, yet firmly rooted in the old.

Annie Lou’s self-titled debut CD was produced by Bob Hamilton at Old Crow Recording in Whitehorse, Yukon, The band called on the talents of renowned old time fiddler Sammy Lind (Foghorn Stringband) to share fiddle duties, and the album includes some rousing double fiddle tunes. This fine acoustic album showcases outstanding songwriting and musicianship, and while drawing on the traditions of old time music, Annie Lou offers up an exciting new sound that sits comfortably alongside the best of contemporary Canadian roots music.

Annie Lou’s lush vocal harmonies, beautifully crafted songs, and solid musical chops capture audiences when these northern women take the stage. In performance the band gathers around one microphone in the traditional acoustic setting of old time music. Their songs reflect the solitude and grit of their northern home and draw a straight line to other times and places.