The Annie Lou band is fronted by Vancouver Island based songwriter and instrumentalist Anne Louise Genest, an artist who walks with the spirit of an old storyteller, creating songs steeped in the flavours of oldtime mountain, Appalachian, and traditional country and bluegrass music. With guitar and banjo in hand, she has spent years chronicling the rural lifepaths of Canada, writing songs to tell the tales of the hard-hit, hard-won victories of these everymen and women.
Beautifully creative songs and tunes range from rousing and boisterous to gentle and poignant, and map a homescape of hard-drinking grandmas, rural dancehalls, blue collar fashions, small towns, big cities. All of this is delivered with Genest’s vocal warmth, evocative of the sweet tones of Kate and Anna McGarrigle blended with the raw emotion of Hazel Dickens.
A Juno and multiple WCMA nominee, Annie Lou's most recent recording, Tried and True, is an irresistible collection of musical delights that showcases songwriting that is compelling and inspired, with deep nods to classic country, mountain ballads, early southern banjo, bluegrass, old time tunes, and a modern feel that appeals to a wide range of audiences.
On tour the Annie Lou roster is rounded out with seasoned Canadian acoustic champs Andrew Collins on mandolin, fiddle, and vocals, Sarah Hamilton on fiddle and vocals, and Max Heineman on upright bass and vocals, the Annie Lou Band is a tight instrumental and vocal ensemble that offers superb musicianship and joyful energy.

Beautifully creative songs and tunes range from rousing and boisterous to gentle and poignant, and map a homescape of hard-drinking grandmas, rural dancehalls, blue collar fashions, small towns, big cities. All of this is delivered with Genest’s vocal warmth, evocative of the sweet tones of Kate and Anna McGarrigle blended with the raw emotion of Hazel Dickens.
Rounded out with seasoned Canadian acoustic champs Andrew Collins on mandolin, fiddle, and vocals, Sarah Hamilton on fiddle and vocals, and Max Heineman on upright bass and vocals, the Annie Lou Band is a tight instrumental and vocal ensemble that offers superb musicianship and joyful energy.

A Juno and multiple WCMA nominee, Annie Lou's most recent recording, Tried and True, is an irresistible collection of musical delights that showcases songwriting that is compelling and inspired, with deep nods to classic country, mountain ballads, early southern banjo, bluegrass, old time tunes, and a modern feel that appeals to a wide range of audiences.