Collier Unveils 32-Date Tour
Soul singer/multi-instrumental Vanessa Collier earned three Blues Music Award nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album; Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist; and Best Instrumentalist: Horn. The nominations come on the strength of her late 2024 album Do It My Own Way, out via Phenix Fire Records, and her 2024 touring, which saw her perform to over 100,000 fans between Chicago Blues Fest, headlining shows, AMERICANAFEST, and support for Blues Traveler. She has announced thirty-three concerts thus far for 2025.
Here’s what we’re hearing and reading about Do It My Own Way:
“Evocative force.”
–Amos Perrine, No Depression, September 16, 2024
“Musical multitudes. The singer/multi-instrumentalist lets rip on these self-written cuts with a kind of indisputable virtuosity… Versatile and evocative.”
–Matt R. Lohr, Living Blues Magazine, November, 2024
“A standout album [sporting] a deeper soulfulness… abiding, soulful grooves that dig into the past of the Memphis soul era, yet build on that with contemporary themes and feelings. At the heart of each song is a carefully crafted groove designed to build a base as Collier deftly guides the songs to her emotional desires… mature and nuanced music-making at its best.”
–Michael Kinsman, Blues Music Magazine, Fall, 2024
“Her sumptuous mix of soul, blues, funk and rock is intoxicating, she has a cool voice, magnetic stage presence, writes rugged material and is supporting a great new album.”
–Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing Atlanta, October 23, 2024
“Scorching… infectious blend of blues, soul, and funk.”
–Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe, October 9, 2024
“Vanessa Collier is an amazing multifaceted musician who knows how to rock a crowd and is a pleasure to work with. Our crowds love her. We’ve had her back a few times as she’s so great to play with. Great songs. Great Sax, great voice. Kick azzz band. What else could you want.”
–Chan Kinchla, Blues Traveler guitarist
“Rare and enchanting… Collier’s ensemble was a study in near-perfect musicianship, effortless playing and, with grace… This was as sophisticated a performance as it gets… engaging as much as it was breathtaking.”
–Eric Sommer, Music Connection, November 23, 2024
“Rising star… plenty of quality here… Vanessa demonstrates her ability to operate across blues, funk, soul and gospel… Ticks all those boxes and will help to maintain Vanessa’s upward trajectory.”
–John Mitchell, Blues Blast, November 4, 2024
“Known for her dynamic blending of genres such as Soul, R&B, Americana, and the Blues, Collier’s latest project is set to showcase her innovative approach and deeply personal artistry.”
–Thomas Beck, Jam & Toast, August 10, 2024
“Considerable stage presence and engaging personality. Quality production, strong vocals and expert musicianship permeate the album.”
–Bob Liddycoat, Blues Rock Review, November 5, 2024
“Every track on this rather stunning set is completely worth your attention.”
–Norman Darwen, Blues In the South (UK), November, 2024
Recorded on analog gear with the musicians largely in one room, Do It My Own Way is sonically inspired by the classic Memphis soul sound of Stax and Hi Records, especially that of the Staples Singers.
Talking about the album, Collier adds, “It’s a warmer and darker sounding a record, recorded intentionally to reflect a throwback to older school soul, R&B, blues, and to the days of great songs and songwriters, tube amps and analog gear.”
Do It My Own Way takes listeners back to the heyday of music with Memphis soul-influenced horn arrangements, layers of vocals for color, with poignant and powerful saxophone solos that deliver a quietly powerful undercurrent to each song and the album as a whole. Minor key Americana/noir “Take Me Back” served as the first single. The album kicks off with the funk workout “Elbow Grease.” On an album full of incredible grooves, “Shoulda Known Better” stands out while “Just One More” sways to a rhumba beat. The gospel-tinged “Rosetta” pays tribute to one of Collier’s heroes, electric guitar pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Collier sings, “She’s carried the torch so I can see a little bit better… There’d be no Elvis or Chuck Berry. Sometimes the women do it best. She tackled all the inequities. And fought with strength and audacity.” The anthemic, slinky title track artfully commenting on the sexism she’s encountered in life and in the music industry. Collier has encountered calls from members of the industry to dress in sexy clothes and to not rock the boat, but has successfully taken hold of her own career.
Second single “Wild As a Rainstorm,” which dives deep into soul territory, powerfully gives advice to women and people who feel left out to ignore the naysayers and “Be a tapestry of dreams.” The track been added to Spotify’s official Retro Soul playlist. The groove and horns would make Willie Mitchell proud, and indeed features legendary Hi Records organist Rev. Charles Hodges. The vocals are powerful, awe-inspiring, and undeniably soulful vocals. Collier says, “’Wild As A Rainstorm’ is a love letter to the next generation -– particularly my little sisters – who feel out of place in the current world. I’m hoping that this song and my journey to recognize my own personal power might inspire another to choose to take their own path when repeatedly arriving at forks in the road.”
Album closer “Warrior” kicks off on resonator guitar before the full band joins in and paints the picture of a powerful woman and is both a universal message about the strength and experience of women and a tribute to Collier’s mother.
Collier takes on multiple roles, writing the songs, producing the album, arranging horns and all instrumental and vocal parts, playing acoustic and electric guitars and alto and tenor saxophones, flute, as well as singing the lead and background vocals. Also on the album are legendary Hi Records organ player Rev. Charles Hodges (Al Green, Bettye LaVette, Ann Peebles, Alex Chilton, Robert Cray); and frequent Collier collaborators Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Laura Chavez (Sue Foley, Mike Ledbetter & Monster Mike Welch); bassist Scott Sutherland (Elvin Bishop); and Byron Cage (Otis Taylor).
The songwriter/bandleader made her Chicago Blues Festival debut this year, in front of tens of thousands. Best known in the blues world – she’s a fifteen-time Blues Music Award nominee and four-time winner.
Vanessa Collier Tour Dates
1/31- Columbia, MD – The Collective
2/1 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
2/2 – New York, NY – Iridium
2/4 – Lima, NY – Fanatics Pub
2/5 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge
2/6 – Forest Park, IL – Robert’s Westside
2/7 – Fort Wayne, IN – C2G Music Hall
2/8 – Mason, OH – Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience
2/14 – Boca Raton, FL – Funky Biscuit
2/15 – Vero Beach, FL – Vero Beach Blues Festival
2/19 – Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe Big Barn
2/20 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
2/21 – San Antonio, TX – Sam’s Burger Joint
2/22 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips FTW
2/25 – Tucson, AZ – Hotel Congress
2/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
2/27 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House
2/28 – Escondido, CA – California Center for the Performing Arts
3/1 – Sutter Creek, CA – Sutter Creek Theatre
3/2 – Carson City, NV – Nashville Social
3/4 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s
3/6 – Portland, OR – Alberta Rose Theatre
3/7 – Tacoma, WA – Jazzbones
3/8 – Seattle, WA – Triple Door
3/9 – Penticton, BC – Dream Cafe
3/12 – Denver, CO – Dazzle Denver
3/15 – Kansas City, MO – Knucklehead’s
3/29 – Burghausen, Germany – Jazzwoche Burghausen
5/7 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Kate
5/9 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
5/10 – Andover, MA – Crossroads Music Series
9/15 – Seattle, WA – Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea
