Annie Lou

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 (Barlow on clawhammer banjo/vocals and Genest on guitar/vocals) to form Annie Lou.
Old time music is based in a variety of dance, vocal, and songwriting and traditions. Annie Lou is faithful to these, with stringband instrumentation, rich vocal harmonies, and original songwriting that is fresh and new, yet firmly rooted in the old. In performance the band gathers around one microphone in the traditional acoustic setting of old time music. The fine skills of Lindy Jones on upright bass and vocals, and Hannah Goa on fiddle, round out the Annie Lou roster.
Solid musical chops, rich vocal harmonies, and beautifully crafted songs reflect the solitude and grit of their northern home, and draw a straight line to the sounds of other times and places.
"It can be a challenge to write new music that feels like it's somehow in step with the older repertoire. Anne Louise and Kim have done a fine job of stepping up to that challenge. The original songs on this disc stand tall and proud beside the old-timers and the playing and singing is first rate." CHRIS COOLE, Foggy Hogtown Boys, and old time banjo player extraordinaire
"Great singing, great playing and most of all great writing. While Annie Lou comes from Canada's great north, you will be instantly transported to the hollers of Appalachia. This is one good and sweet, honest and true old time album.” ANDREW COLLINS, Creaking Tree String Quartet
“Annie Lou were the sparkling surprise of the 2007 Kluane Mountain Bluegrass festival. These northern women play some of the most soulful oldtimey sounding music there is, with brilliant instrumentation and wonderful vocals.” BOB HAYES, Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival ************************************************************ **** THE NEW ALBUM is on its way, and we're going on tour! Hooray! Have a listen to the recently uploaded tracks to hear what we have been up to. We were so delighted to have SAMMY LIND from the FOGHORN STRINGBAND play on several tracks, and do some rousing twin fiddle numbers with Keitha Clark. We recorded at Old Crow Recording in Whitehorse, with production by BOB HAMILTON. Thanks to the generous support of the Canada Council, FACTOR, and the Yukon Film and Sound Commission. We're really excited about the record and can't wait to share it with you. Stay tuned for for further updates!
Huge thanks to Keitha Clark, an original member of Annie Lou, for all her work with the band and on the album. Keitha has decided to pursue other musical opportunities. We are delighted that Hannah Goa will be fiddling with us on our upcoming tour.Below, there is a video in which Annie Lou performs "Spit and Polish", by Anne Louise Genest. Juneau, April '08, at the Alaska Folk Festival. Filmed by Kim Beggs.