Canada’s multiple award winning mando maestro Andrew Collins Trio makes Sarasota debut

The Fogartyville Community Arts Center is no stranger to a range of musical talent. The venue supports a plethora of genres – including Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, and Jazz – but hearing so many musical influences all in one evening of performance is a rare treat.

Enter 5x JUNO (Canada’s Grammy) nominee/7x Canadian Folk Music Award winner Andrew Collins. On Sat Jan 20, 8pm, this mandolin marvel will be joined by string master Mike Mezzatesta, and in-the-pocket bassist James McEleney who also holds it down on harmony vocals.

The number of genres the group nails is matched only by the dizzying number of instruments on stage. As Andrew notes, “We overcompensate being a small band by playing a lot of instruments.” That’s putting it lightly. Audiences will hear a seamless swap of mandolin, violin, guitar, bass, and the less commonly used mandocello and mandola, alongside great singing, banter and jokes.

Andrew adds, “we play at least one Roger Miller song a night, some jazz, classical music, a bunch of original songs, traditional bluegrass, Celtic music, and a little bit of honky tonk, some swing music – we really like to keep things hopping”.

When asked about all the awards he has won and his connection with his followers, Collins said “we’re so grateful it resonates with our fans and award juries. We work really hard at music but it’s also just about pure joy—I think that’s what folks pick up on – not just in our recordings but our live shows.”

Tickets for the concert are available at the Fogartyville Community Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, 941-545-5635, www.fogartyville.org

photo from LW Communicatons