Juno nominated singer-songwriter Annie Lou from Parksville will bring her bluegrass stylings to Bowen for a spirited show at Tir-na-nOg Theatre on March 18 at 4 p.m.
With humour, grace, and warmth, Lou takes the stage with banjo and guitar, and invites you into her colourful world of original music rooted in melodic traditions and delivered with an inspired energy and spark.
Old folk, old-time, country and bluegrass is the palette upon which she paints vibrant landscapes, where you can laugh, cry, dance, reflect and connect with ballads, tunes, and songs inspired by lives and times and ups and downs.
A past Juno nominee, Lou is in the midst of releasing her fourth album, End Zone, a stirring collection of new songs which draw deep from the well, filling the bucket with rich melody and wry wisdom.
No, it’s not about football: most of the material for the album was written during the last months of her mother’s life.
The title track is an exploration of when the end is near but not quite.
Lou’s touring ensemble is a tight vocal and instrumental unit that offers superb musicianship and an infectious delight in their craft.
In live performance the band gallops along with joyful danceable precision, enticing audiences with twin fiddles, banjo, three and four part harmonies, call and response, and compelling instrumental solos.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Lou, who has performed on Bowen in the past.
“Bowen is dear to my heart!” she says. “I couldn’t miss Bowen – the community is so welcoming and appreciative and supportive of the arts.”
Bowen resident Kori Miyanishi will perform a short opening set before Lou takes the stage.
