Skip to content

Andrew Collins returns to Qualicum Beach with secular creation-story album

Trio to perform at Qualicum Community Baptist Church Saturday, April 1
web1_170324-PQN-M-AndrewCollins-sub-170324
Rob Doda Photo The Andrew Collins Trio are back in Qualicum Beach this Saturday, April 1, performing songs from their latest album. From left are Mike Messatesta, Andrew Collins and James McEleney.

Andrew Collins has gone from ski bum in Whistler to Juno-nominated and Canadian Folk Music Award-winning musician based in Toronto. But the west coast is pulling him back once again for a tour showcasing his new album, And It Was Good.

The Andrew Collins Trio, sometimes referred to as a folk music group, will be performing at the Qualicum Community Baptist Church on Saturday, April 1. Collins will be on mandolin, Mike Mezzatesta on guitar and other strings, and James McEleney on bass.

The new album, released in September, was a chance for the genre-hopping musician to buckle down and make his first concept album. Inspiration came from the creation story, he said.

“I call it an acoustic creation tale,” said Collins. Appropriate, since Collins made an extra effort to create a common idea for his audience to latch onto. With past albums, audience ideas about his music have been fairly arbitrary.

“I’ve had people come up to me after shows and say, ‘oh, when you played that tune I imagined a green tractor in a field,’ and really random stuff. So I really wanted to try and create something that connects to a story,” he said. “To try and actually tell a story with instrumental music was a way to push my composing and create an album that brought the listeners into the story.”

Despite the push to create something more concrete, Collins said he is still at a loss for how to describe the genre of music in the album.

“I’ve studied many different styles (of music) like jazz and bluegrass and classical and celtic music, and my music draws from all these styles,” he said. While some call it folk or bluegrass, he is not so sure, and says you have to hear the music for yourself to decide.

Collins has played in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area several times over the years with different bands, including the trio. Tickets are $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.