On Saturday, March 29 at The Gallery at Artisan Square at 7:30, Bowen Island music fans are in for a treat. Anne Louise Genest and Chris Coole will be gracing the stage to share their love of bluegrass and old time songs and tunes.
Chris Coole is known as one of Canada's finest proponents of old-time music. He is also a noted singer-songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player.
As the guitarist of The Foggy Hogtown Boys of Toronto, he has taken bluegrass across this country and back, and to far-flung places such as Israel, Ireland, the U.K., Germany and the Czech Republic. From his start as a busker on the streets and subway system of Toronto, to his busy current schedule playing and teaching around the world, he has made music his full-time profession for over 20 years. His banjo playing has been called "incomparable" (Penguin Eggs Magazine) and "highly accomplished and understated" (Bluegrass Unlimited). Chris juggles several musical projects, but has spent much of his time the last few years playing banjo and guitar for three-time Juno award winner (and current nominee) David Francey.
Vancouver Island-based Anne Louise Genest has been touring major festivals and stages across Canada with her Juno-nominated band Annie Lou for several years. Drawn to the stringband sounds and story songs of old-time mountain, bluegrass, and traditional country music, her original songs are steeped in these influences.
Genest’s debut Annie Lou album was nominated for a 2010 Juno award, and her latest release, Grandma’s Rules for Drinking, brought her two 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for English Songwriter of the Year and Solo Artist of the Year and was at the top of the International Folk DJ charts for 2012. She writes and composes on both guitar and banjo, and her original songs, stellar playing, and great big vocals are the centrepiece of Annie Lou.
Although this is their first tour, Anne Louise Genest and Chris Coole have spent countless hours lost in songs and tunes together over the past 10 years. Their friendship has been bonded together by a mutual love of song that makes you cry, a tune that makes you dance, a joke that makes you laugh...not to mention the odd gin and tonic that, can make you cry, dance and laugh ever harder! Both musicians stand out for their "serve the song" approach to playing music, an approach that makes the stories and tunes come to life. Ancient old-time ballads and blues mix seamlessly with new heart songs and banjo breakdowns to create a thoroughly compelling night of music.
Tickets are $20 and available through reservations at 604-947-2061. Please ask for Lorraine.
