Time: 9 p.m.

Cover:$10

  www.myspace.com/annvriend or www.annvriend.com

“With her soaring vocals, impressive song-writing ability, and instrumental prowess, Vriend is truly an all-in-one package." --Obscure Sound

Ann Vriend (pronounced Vreend) was born in Vancouver, BC. When her parents discovered their 3-year-old could play nursery songs on a Fisher Price xylophone, they encouraged her musical development by enrolling her in violin lessons. At the age of nine, when Vriend sought to accompany herself as a songwriter, she took piano lessons from an elderly woman down the street who charged $5 per visit. In high school, Vriend reluctantly performed 3 of her compositions (meant to be sung by friend instead of her) at a talent show. Accolades from her fellow students evolved into various projects with older students in bands, and eventually into praise from critics, the media, and fans around the world.

Vriend's vulnerable yet exquisite voice is often the first thing that turns heads; it has been described as an enchanting cross between Dolly Parton and a young Aretha Franklin. Vriend's songs maintain a natural knack for melody, garnering her local hits on both independent and commercial radio.

From composition to composition Vriend’s genre varies between indie folk, college pop, and jazz influenced numbers, yet she maintains a consistency of sound in her immediately recognizable vocal and lyrical approach. Vriend’s quirkiness and self-taught piano stylings draw comparisons to Regina Spektor, Kate Bush, and Katie Melua, but, to quote Drum Media (Australia):

"When it comes to women with pianos, there are endless comparisons to make, but Vriend stands out from the crowd."

Vriend's story-like but often enigmatic lyrics reveal her lauded literary depth; her stage presence, balanced perfectly between breathtaking, heartbreaking songs and charming, witty humor, make for a wholly engaging show, resulting in over 10,000 album sales to date as an independent artist, sold almost entirely from off the stage. It is common for people to cry during her performances. (And laugh!).

Ann Vriend tours regularly in Europe, Australia, and across North America. She has headlined at international festivals, her music has been featured in a television show DVD release, and she was commissioned to write a song for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She is as comfortable performing in the humble setting of a house concert as she is on stage at famous venues, and is a fine collaborator and innovator, appearing on many albums as a guest of her own singer-songwriter peers.

Known in her current hometown province of Alberta (Canada) as the"piano-pop laureate of emotional conflict," Vriend continues to make loyal fans wherever she goes. David Ritz, author of many biographies (Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye) writes:

"Once every generation... a singer-songwriter emerges with the creative fire to set the music world ablaze. Ann Vriend has the fire."

Now, with the release of her upcoming live album Closer Encounters (recorded at live performances around the world from 2008 –2009), Ann Vriend's music is soaring into more and more concert halls, airwaves, eardrums, and hearts.