Jenny Anne Mannan - Carnies & Cowboys (2019)

Northwest native Jenny Anne Mannan began her musical education at a tender age, touring with her family’s bluegrass band, The Bullas, and garnering awards at fiddle contests along the way. In 1998 she moved to Nashville with her brother Luke Bulla, where the pair co-founded a band and became fixtures in the Nashville bluegrass scene. Jenny Anne toured with country songwriter Paul Overstreet, and was often a guest of artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Chris Jones, and Jim Lauderdale. Since her return to Spokane, WA, where she currently lives with her husband, author Caleb Mannan and their 4 children, she has released Saints and Sinners, in addition to lending fiddle and vocals to Irish band An Dochas. Her newest release, Carnies & Cowboys, will be available soon.

Mannan's newest album, Carnies & Cowboys, confirms her skills as a multi-instrumentalist and championship fiddler while revealing new dimensions to her songwriting prowess. A kind of musical memoir, this collection of songs chronicles Mannan's journey as a member of a Traveling American Family Band, tracing her roots from the banks of the Columbia River all the way to Nashville and back again. Evoking traditional Bakersfield and Cosmic Country sounds, Mannan draws from her bluegrass, folk, gospel, family-band pedigree. In warm, honest tones, Mannan sings her memories, telling her stories with disarming authenticity, recalling an evening spent in the Davidson County Jail, growing up as one of seven performing children, longing for home, and finding love. The themes in her songs are as universal as they are specific, and, backed by her Angel Band, Mannan has crafted a sound that is both new and nostalgic.

Mannan has been a recurring guest of Sean and Sara Watkins on their critically acclaimed show Watkins Family Hour and has performed with John Cowan at the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Her songs have been recorded by John Cowan ("Little Match Girl", Comfort & Joy) and Sara Watkins ("Lock & Key", Sun Midnight Sun). Jenny Anne is the producer and host of the popular monthly variety show, Northwest of Nashville, where she features a revolving cast of touring and regional musicians.