A Minnesota native and an active guitar player since the age of 12 Ann has been a performer all her life. For more than 35 years, Ann has pursued the art of songwriting and solo performance as a vocalist and 12-string guitarist, including developing what she finds to be a unique skill as a songwriter: composing a song with a group. The most visible example of that particular craft was writing a song about the Minnesota State Fair on Minnesota Public Radio live from the fairgrounds. The audience was invited to give suggestions to the song. (There are now five State Fair songs, all written the same way).
Most recently, Ann has created pieces that incorporate music and storytelling—most of which appeal to an older audience. Too often our senior citizens find themselves in a world lacking in social interaction, separated from the activities that once offered connection to peers. Anne’s interest in COMPAS is to have more opportunities to give performances that engage and connect the senior segment of our population. What she brings to the table is a plethora of experience, a life lived in the arts, and willingness—eagerness—to create new pieces that will benefit the senior audience.
More About the Artist
Ann has been a touring musician for more than 30 years, traveling North America coast to coast, doing concerts and clubs as well as festivals such as Bumbershoot and National Women’s Music Festival in Middleton Wisconsin. She has also appeared on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion ABC’s Good Morning America, and NPR’s Morning Edition. In addition, she has received numerous accolades including Minnesota Music Academy Performer of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Best Recording of the Year. Her most recent role is that of author —her first novel is “Citizens of Campbell” published December of 2016.
Learn more about Ann in her June 2021 Artist Spotlight Interview.
Program Offerings
Performances
An Introduction to PolkaSol!
What happens when three well known Twin Cities musicians decide to learn to play new instruments and then form a group? You get PolkaSol! The musicians – Ann Reed, Joan Griffith and Anita Ruth, who usually play guitar, bass, and piano respectively, have tossed those instruments aside and become a trio playing two accordions and a violin. The repertoire consists of lots of polkas, waltzes and old time songs. The music falls into many categories and genres – Scandinavian, Irish, French, old time, folk and popular to name a few. But what PolkaSol likes best is to sing along with their audience. A very interactive group, PolkaSol encourages its listeners to join in the fun. PolkaSol loves to talk with its audience, share stories and humor. PolkaSol wants to bring a smile and a light to the eyes of those that are present and hopefully bring back memories of other days.
Music with Ann Reed & Joan Griffith
Singer/songwriter Ann Reed and bassist/guitarist/mandolinist Joan Griffith offer a relaxed, fun-filled, and engaging program. It’s a rich mix of Ann’s original songs, some jazz standards, a Brazilian choro on mandolin, plus a few sing-alongs, so everyone gets into the act!
