Leonard Cohen`s song Who By Fire with additional Hebrew lyrics of the Rosh hashana prayer sung by Urszula Makosz opened the final concert of the LC Event Krakow 2010 at Tempel Synagogue. Urszula was accompanied on stage by Paweł Pierzchała (keyboard),Michał Półtorak (violin) and Michael Jones (small drum).
With over 11,000 albums sold independently, and over 200 concerts per year, Ann Vriend has earned a well-respected name for herself in many countries in the folk, roots, and independent pop music circuits. With her immediately identifiable and gripping voice, her strongly melodic and poetic writing style, and her self-accompanying prowess on the piano, Vriend is often compared to innovative artists such as Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap, Katie Melua and Joni Mitchell. She is also known for her great rapport with her audiences, engaging them with witty humour and gripping stories between her powerfully delivered songs.
Now, with the release of her new and already acclaimed live album, entitled Closer Encounters (recorded at live concerts in Australia and Canada from 2008 –2009), Ann Vriend’s music is soaring into even more concert halls, airwaves, eardrums, and hearts.
Upon hearing Ann Vriend’s heartbreaking and exquisite voice people of all demographics stop in their tracks.
After which point the content and production of Ann’s writing breathlessly captivates until the very end, of both her stunning live shows and her cinematic, sophisticated pop albums. Her uncompromisingly fresh style has garnered comparisons to eccentrics such as Fiona Apple or Kate Bush, soaring pop epics such as David Gray or Katie Melua, fresh young piano divas such Gavin DeGraw and Sarah Slean, and alternately joyous and heartbreaking as icons such as Emmylou Harris and Paul Simon.
She passionately performs her music around the world, from New York to Berlin, Melbourne to Paris, and in her home and native land of Canada.
Writes American Music Biographer David Ritz:
“Once every generation a singer-songwriter emerges with the creative fire to set the music world ablaze. Ann Vriend has that fire.”
During the duration of the Event we will have an opportunity to see an exhibition of works inspired by Leonard Cohen’s art. The venue of the exhibition is the hall of the Manggha museum.
OPTIONAL TRIPS Monday, 9th August 2010
9:30 am-3:30 pm Auschwitz-Birkenau
Tuesday, 10th August 2010
9:30 am -1:30 pm Wieliczka Salt Mine
Ann’s new album, “When We Were Spies”, is now for sale online, right here, for a discount price before it goes into stores on March 11! Get your copy before everyone else, and for $3 less than retail price!!
To buy Ann’s albums:
Go to: http://www.myspace.com/annvriend
Click on the icons of the albums and purchase securely online right now with your credit card (no account necessary / PayPal).
Ann performing “St. Paul” and “Halloween” on Help TV, promoting “Homefest” (fundraiser for Edmonton homeless crisis):
Ann’s upcoming album, “When We Were Spies” will be released March 11, 2008. It has already presold 800 copies. “St. Paul”, a single from this album is currently in heavy rotation on commercial radio in Ann’s hometown of Edmonton, “(If We Are Not) Spies” was added the week of January 20, 2008. Ann’s EP containing live tracks and singles from her upcoming album (released June, 2007) has garnered 4 star reviews in NOW Magazine, and charting in the Top 30 on Toronto’s CIUT radio.
Our 15th Leonard Cohen birthday celebration night in Toowoomba was one that we all had high expectations of, as our small group here in Toowoomba had invested more effort and time into making sure it was a good one, and indeed it was to be the first one where we had international guests and performers! Henning Franz (Germany) had been teed up well in advance and discussions around the participation of Ann Vriend (Canada) had also taken place early in the piece, though it was more involved to organise for Ann to perform, particularly with the challenging travel logistics relating to her being in Berlin just a couple of days beforehand!
The event went really well in terms of the wonderful spirit of the occasion. Everyone I spoke to enjoyed the program and it was great to meet new people again this year. It was especially nice to have one of our LC Forum members (Blonde Madonna), who lives in Victoria, drop in for yesterday’s program!
Henning did his usual sensitive and beautiful performance of Leonard’s poetry to music and this was well received. Ann Vriend had to battle with a bad head cold and was jet-lagged and tired, but delighted the audience. Despite her unwell condition, she performed well beyond expectations and was a big hit with everyone, many of whom purchased her CDs.
`s song Who By Fire with additional Hebrew lyrics of the Rosh hashana prayer sung by Urszula Makosz opened the final concert of the LC Event Krakow 2010 at Tempel Synagogue. Urszula was accompanied on stage by Paweł Pierzchała (keyboard),Michał Półtorak (violin) and Michael Jones (small drum).
With over 11,000 albums sold independently, and over 200 concerts per year, 
Upon hearing 
