The mercurial mandolinist Andrew Collins finds himself – through no actual fault of his own – at the epicentre of Canada’s burgeoning acoustic/roots music scene. He didn’t invent it – but he’s certainly a major contributor, having co-founded seriously noteworthy Canadian bands like the Creaking String Quartet, the Foggy Hogtown Boys and, more recently, the Andrew Collins Trio.

As he gathers up innumerable awards and nominations by these various ensembles, Collins, who’s comfortable on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mandola and mandocello – is zeroing in on the work he does with his beloved trio: fellow string guru Mike Mezzatesta, whose versatility shines through on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and mandola, and in-the-pocket James McEleney, holding it down on the bass, mandocello and vocals.

Showcasing a popular collision of trailblazing roots, folk, chambergrass and jazz, not to mention a dizzying number and energetic interplay of instruments on stage, Collins and Co. appear to live by the old adage, “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” likely keeping them just ahead of his grasp.

Five times JUNO nominee and seven times Canadian Folk Music Award winning mando-maestro Andrew Collins brings his Trio’s trailblazing roots to Invermere’s Pynelogs Cultural Centre’s Love It Live Series on Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m.

Andrew’s career as a solo artist is no less impressive. The Central Canada Bluegrass Association nominated him five times as Mandolin Player of the Year, which he secured in 2005.  His debut solo album, Little Widgets (2005), is a self-produced collection of genre-bending originals that earned him a Canadian Folk Music Award for Pushing the Boundaries in 2006

In 2007, Andrew took a different track and collaborated with world-renowned Celtic musician, Brian Taheney, to release Mando Lore, an all-traditional, all-mandolin-family compilation of Celtic and Old Time gems.  His follow-up solo album, Cats and Dogs (2011), continued to build his catalogue of feisty originals, garnering a JUNO and CFMA.

Taking musical cues from David Grisman, Andrew, now joined by Mike and James, have ventured even further down the path of trailblazing roots and beyond – melding multiple genres while tastefully showcasing each of their boundaries – all towards extrapolating brave new musical worlds.

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