Bob Oldfield
Vernon Folk-Roots Society
Toronto鈥檚 Andrew Collins is a five-time JUNO nominee and a seven-time CFMA winner.
He is considered a master of the mandolin though is equally at home on a wide range of acoustic stringed instruments.
The Vernon Folk-Roots Society will play host to the music of the Andrew Collins Trio at The Vernon Jazz Club on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
Along with his trio, his reputation as a genrebending artist continues to grow (critics have affectionately referred to his music as 鈥榗hambergrass鈥�) and has caused him to be considered a worthy occupant of the world of wonderful artists such as B茅la Fleck and David Grisman.
Collins didn鈥檛 start performing live music until he was well into his 20s.
Originally he was influenced by bluegrass players Chris Coole and the aforementioned Grisman so much so that he set off on his own music journey and nearly 20 years later he continues to flourish, now being called a 鈥榤usical scholar of the highest distinction鈥� by the Toronto Star.
On the day we spoke he was celebrating the release of Return to Dorrigo, the latest single from the trio鈥檚 new album Rule of Three.
Collins explained that the new album was actually recorded during Covid in late 2020, 鈥渂ut like so many things for all of us,鈥� he says, 鈥渢he pandemic had its own agenda and it鈥檚 taken until now to find some normality and get the album released.鈥�
Also, with begrudging thanks to the pandemic, he expanded his capabilities to encompass photography and video work to his musicianship.
鈥淚 even wrote, recorded and produced and promoted a whole album by myself (Love Away the Hate). It was a wonderful learning time,鈥� he muses. 鈥楤ut I honestly would have preferred to have skipped it (the pandemic).鈥�
Collins is looking forward to only his second visit to Vernon, both visits at the behest of the Vernon Folk Roots Society.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be a show with a healthy sprinkling of both vocal and instrumental songs,鈥� he said, as the band covers a range of styles, quite unlike anything else that鈥檚 out there.
Tickets are $40 at or 250-549-SHOW (7469).
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