Ann Downey

Ann Downey sings and plays upright bass, clawhammer banjo, and guitar, in a wide range of styles, from old-timey Appalachian to jazz, and most of what happens in between. As a vocalist she’s drawn to finding harmonies, as well as yodeling and wacky songs. Originally from the southwestern U.S. she’s performed in Europe, Canada and the U.S. She’s sung, played and recorded with Finest Kind, Sneezy Waters, The Old Sod Band, and Pat Moore and the Vinyl Frontier, and the Toasted Westerns, as well as on studio projects with other fine Ottawa area musicians. Most days Ann can be found playing and singing in Shirt-Tearing Boys, the Kanata Symphony Orchestra, Saloon Dion, The Knot Sisters, and Finest Kind (on their rare ventures out of retirement) as well as on call as a sideman with local folks, jamming in people’s kitchens, and teaching clawhammer banjo, yodeling, and folk guitar at Alcorn Music Studios.