Vanessa Collier NIGHT ONE

Schedule

Thu Jan 30 2025 at 07:30 pm to 10:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

The Collective - Encore | Columbia, MD

Advertisement
Vanessa Collier has seen the world from her beginnings in Columbia, MD. When she comes home, the world should take notice!
About this Event

“There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.”

Those are the words of Buddy Guy in a recent issue of American Blues Scene, describing an

impromptu performance with Vanessa Collier on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Vanessa and witness one of her head-turning, fiery, and passionate performances, you should definitely make sure you do. As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa Collier, weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Vanessa is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honours, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch.


It’s not simply the accolades she has accumulated so far, although they’ve been many -- two Blues Music Awards for “Horn Player of the Year”, and a third BMA for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”, eight Blues Music Award Nominations (BMAs), a Blues Blast Award nomination, the Jammingest Pro Award bestowed by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, First Place for lyrics in the International Songwriting Competition, Best of 2014 Blues Breaker on Dan Aykroyd’s BluesMobile -- it’s the fact that she has accumulated all these honors even while her career is still in its infancy. A 2013 graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she’s toured nationally and internationally, released four critically acclaimed albums (2014’s Heart, Soul & Saxophone, 2017’s Meeting My Shadow, and 2018’s Honey Up, 2020’s Heart On The Line. Honey Up spent 9 weeks atop the Billboard Blues Album Charts Top 15, 3 months on the Living Blues Charts at #10 and #23, and continues to be spun on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville radio station!


Unsurprisingly, the press has been quick to commend her efforts as well. Blues Blast

Magazine affirms, “Vanessa Collier is a fresh face on the American blues scene, and in addition to her soulful vocals, she brings a mighty sax to the table...” Blues Music Magazine proclaims, “Collier is a fresh face who comes to the blues stage carrying her reed instruments, a dual degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, a major label debut, almost two years of touring with Joe Louis Walker, and a mature musical vision…Collier commands center stage with her vocals, soloing, and stage presence.” Midwest Record exclaims, “This bluesy singing sax player knows how to bring the slinking funk to her captivating, award-winning sound that has echoes in young Bonnie Raitt/Maria Muldaur vocal sounds…Killer stuff on every level, this sounds like one of the reasons you first became a music fan. Killer stuff.” and AXS.Com declares that she “might as well go ahead and add another shelf to her trophy case because clearly, she’s going to need it. With a voice that often recalls that of blues-rock stalwart Bonnie Raitt, Collier turns up the heat...”


Having first picked up the saxophone at the age of nine, Collier embarked on her road to recognition at Berklee, earning dual degrees in Performance and Music Production & Engineering. While still completing her degree, Collier landed a position touring with Joe Louis Walker for a year and a half before Joe encouraged her to strike out on her own. And strike out she did.

These days, Collier spends much of her time on the road, performing at some of the most prestigious music festivals in the world. Her talents have taken her to the Blues Music Awards Show where, in the words of the Blues Foundation, Vanessa “blew the doors off the Blues Music Awards!”; Ottawa Blues Festival, where she earned two front page newspaper photos and rave reviews after her foot stomping debut there; twice on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, where she earned the Jammingest Pro Award and was a featured artist with Tommy Castro’s Blues Review; Briggs Farm Festival, where she was the “most popular Briggs Farm act in 2017” (Elmore Magazine), and the list continues. In 2017, Vanessa was also a featured artist in three major tours across Europe as part of Ruf’s 2017 Blues Caravan.

Vanessa has won 3 Blues Music Awards - two for “Horn Player of the Year” in 2019 and 2020 and one in 2022 for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”!! She has been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards since 2017, which puts her in elite company with artists such as Beth Hart, Samantha Fish, Shemekia Copeland, Ruthie Foster, Trombone Shorty, Al Basile, and Jimmy Carpenter.


As for Collier, she says she’s happy performing on stages across the world, hoping that she can make a difference with fans and followers along the way. “I am driven to do this because I find it a total form of expression and connection,” she explains. “I love connecting with an audience and feeling their energy and I hope to inspire people to follow their dreams and passions, to find what brings them joy, and then to pursue it doggedly.” Vanessa also takes that message to young people as she runs clinics across the country and is active with Blues in the Schools programs. At a recent Blues in the School program, Vanessa invited a stage full of elementary and middle school aged kids up to dance around her while she performed a blues shuffle. Watching the joy on the faces of Vanessa, the kids, and everyone in the auditorium, it is no wonder why Vanessa has become awe-inspiring to all who meet her. On top of talent and hard work, Vanessa shares an incredible heart and a strong purpose. To borrow from the words of an article in Blues Blast Magazine, “Vanessa is an important part of the future of the blues, and it would be cool to support her journey.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

The Collective - Encore, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 45.40

The Collective

Host or Publisher The Collective

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Columbia

Vanessa Collier NIGHT TWO
Fri Jan 31 2025 at 08:00 pm Vanessa Collier NIGHT TWO

The Collective - Encore

ENTERTAINMENT ART
Sat Feb 01 2025 at 09:00 am Men's Conference - ARISE

God's Remnant Assembly - Citadel of Miracles

BUSINESS CONFERENCES
Shemekia Copeland in Columbia
Thu Feb 06 2025 at 07:30 pm Shemekia Copeland in Columbia

The Collective Encore

Shemekia Copeland
Thu Feb 06 2025 at 07:30 pm Shemekia Copeland

The Collective - Encore

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Atomic Light Orchestra (ELO Tribute)
Sat Feb 08 2025 at 08:00 pm Atomic Light Orchestra (ELO Tribute)

The Collective - Encore

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
2025 Valentine Dance Party
Thu Feb 13 2025 at 12:00 pm 2025 Valentine Dance Party

CEC Campus

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
SHAKEDOWN Standup Open Mic
Wed Apr 27 2022 at 08:00 pm SHAKEDOWN Standup Open Mic

8850 Stanford Blvd

OPEN-MIC COMEDY
SHAKEDOWN Standup Comedy Showcase
Fri Apr 29 2022 at 08:30 pm SHAKEDOWN Standup Comedy Showcase

8850 Stanford Blvd

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
1st Thursdays Open Mic Night | Columbia |
Thu Jan 04 2024 at 08:00 pm 1st Thursdays Open Mic Night | Columbia |

Busboys and Poets - Columbia

OPEN-MIC ART
ASL Open Mic | Columbia | 2nd Fridays | hosted by Marcus J Smith
Fri Jan 12 2024 at 09:00 pm ASL Open Mic | Columbia | 2nd Fridays | hosted by Marcus J Smith

Busboys and Poets - Columbia

OPEN-MIC ENTERTAINMENT
3rd Thursdays  Open Mic Night | Columbia | Hosted by E-Baby
Thu Jan 18 2024 at 08:00 pm 3rd Thursdays Open Mic Night | Columbia | Hosted by E-Baby

Busboys and Poets - Columbia

OPEN-MIC ART
Professional Skills 3 Days Bootcamp in Columbia, MD
Wed Jan 24 2024 at 05:00 am Professional Skills 3 Days Bootcamp in Columbia, MD

For venue details reach us at [email protected]

WORKSHOPS VIRTUAL
Children's Choir Rehearsal
Tue Mar 05 2024 at 06:15 pm Children's Choir Rehearsal

St John Baptist Church

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Artificial Intelligence \/ Machine Learning  Workshop in Columbia, MD
Mon May 06 2024 at 09:00 am Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning Workshop in Columbia, MD

For venue details reach us at [email protected], PH: +1 469 666 9332

WORKSHOPS ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE
XHH Step w\/Chrissyy
Fri Jul 19 2024 at 06:00 pm XHH Step w/Chrissyy

St. John Baptist Church

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
Extreme Hip Hop Step Class
Fri Jul 26 2024 at 06:00 pm Extreme Hip Hop Step Class

St John Baptist Church

WORKSHOPS DANCE
Open Mic ~ Music ~ Poetry ~ Hip Hop ~ Jazz ~ Vendors Needed Wanted
Wed Aug 21 2024 at 08:00 pm Open Mic ~ Music ~ Poetry ~ Hip Hop ~ Jazz ~ Vendors Needed Wanted

Columbia

ENTERTAINMENT OPEN-MIC
Vinyasa Yoga Class - Fire Flow!
Fri Sep 13 2024 at 09:00 am Vinyasa Yoga Class - Fire Flow!

Chiseled Life Gym

HEALTH-WELLNESS WORKSHOPS
Beginners Vinyasa Class - Fire Flow
Sat Sep 28 2024 at 09:00 am Beginners Vinyasa Class - Fire Flow

Chiseled Life Gym

WORKSHOPS HEALTH-WELLNESS
Third Fridays: DJ Dance Party at Bark Social Columbia!
Fri Oct 18 2024 at 06:00 pm Third Fridays: DJ Dance Party at Bark Social Columbia!

Bark Social Columbia

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Columbia?

Discover Columbia Events