AV & The Inner City is a six-piece, all-female vocal group from Edmonton, blending Soul, Roots, and Blues influences into a signature sound that merges R&B and non-religious Gospel styles. Known for their powerful harmonies and relatable, unforgettable songs, the group is a testament to the diversity and rich musical backgrounds of its members. Their journey began during the pandemic, when a series of socially distanced porch concerts hosted by AV (Ann Vriend) brought the members together.
Since their debut, the group has made a splash on the Canadian music scene, earning the Edmonton Folk Music Festival’s “Emerging Artist Award” during their inaugural Western Canada tour in 2023. Their first year also saw them featured in Porter Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Edmonton’s Edify Magazine, and played on CBC and CKUA. With 20,000 Spotify streams within three months of launching, their music resonates widely.
The group features a lineup of exceptional talent, including JUNO-nominated Indigenous artist Debbie Houle, jazz vocalist and musicologist Johwanna Alleyne, pop/R&B artist Crystal Eyo of “Mercy Funk,” Czech songwriter Alenka Lundell, and multi-instrumentalist Jenn Dahlen, all guided by the award-winning Blues/Roots artist AV (Ann Vriend). Together, they represent a vibrant mosaic of Canadian artistry and storytelling.
Name:
AV & The Inner City
Genre:
Soul/Roots
Founded:
2021
# of Albums:
We have released 3 singles so far, and are working towards releasing a full album by early 2026
Latest Single:
“Lion at the Gate”
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
We are a group of 6 so it’s all over the place with us, especially because we are from different countries and backgrounds – there might not be even one common artist from our very different childhoods! You’d have to say something super universally known – Michael Jackson?? Whitney Houston??
Favourite musician now:
Oh boy – now we would probably still not agree haha. But everyone knows bandleader AV would say “Aretha!!!”
Guilty pleasure song:
Purple Rain
Live show ritual:
Putting our newsletter sign-up sheet EVERYWHERE so people sign up for where we post exclusive music and videos for subscribers (incidentally, here is the link to subscribe)
Favourite local musician:
The Kinjo Brothers in Calgary! In Edmonton: Mercy Funk (one of our singers is their lead singer and founder ;))
EP or LP?
LP, for sure
Early bird or night owl?
5 of us are early birds – band leader AV is very much the opposite 🙂
Road or studio?
Oh man – they are both great in totally different ways… the road is more of an adventure of course, though, and being able to have an immediate reaction from the audience would probably make us pick “road”.
Any shows or albums coming up?
We are performing in Calgary on January 25 2025 to play the Red Deer Lake Concert Series, tickets here.
Where can we follow you?
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok | Spotify
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Mojo Jojo Pickles and Preserves – it’s more of a pickles and collectables shop, but we love it and it is owned by one of the Inner City singers– Johwanna (Jojo) Alleyne.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
96th Street, where we performed more than 60 free concerts on AV’s front porch during the pandemic, and how our group formed.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Giovanni Caboto, right in the inner city neighborhood where are group formed (McCauley, Edmonton)
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
The Aviary and CoLab
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Blackbyrd Myoosik, where you can find our 7″ 45 vinyl!
