Where Roots Meet Reinvention: The Andrew Collins Trio Celebrate 'Retro' in Toronto
- Stevie Connor
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Stevie Connor | The Sound Cafe Journal
There are moments in the Canadian roots calendar that feel less like “just another show” and more like a quiet convergence of craft, history, and musical conversation. The upcoming CD release concert for The Andrew Collins Trio at Hugh's Room Live is one of those moments, an evening where the past and present sit side by side, tuning up together.
At the centre of it all is Andrew Collins, a musician whose name has become almost synonymous with the evolution of Canada’s acoustic and roots landscape. Not through noise or spectacle, but through consistency, curiosity, and an unwavering devotion to the craft. A 7-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner and 5-time JUNO nominee, Collins has spent decades quietly shaping the sound of contemporary acoustic music in this country, whether through his work with the Creaking Tree String Quartet, the Foggy Hogtown Boys, or now, most compellingly, with his Trio.
What makes this particular chapter resonate is the chemistry. Alongside Collins are two players who don’t simply accompany, they converse. Adam Shier brings a fluidity that shifts effortlessly between guitar and mandolin, while James McEleney anchors the sound with a deep, intuitive sense of rhythm and tone. Together, they form something greater than the sum of their parts, a trio that understands space as much as speed, restraint as much as virtuosity.
And virtuosity is certainly in no short supply.
To watch the Andrew Collins Trio is to witness a kind of musical shapeshifting. Instruments are traded, genres dissolve and reassemble, and melodies stretch into unexpected places. There are echoes here, of Béla Fleck’s boundary-pushing spirit, of David Grisman’s new acoustic explorations, even of Yo-Yo Ma’s genre-defying collaborations—but none of it feels derivative. Instead, it feels like a continuation of a conversation that Collins has been part of for most of his career.
This show, however, is not just about legacy, it’s about renewal.
With the release of Retro, the Trio’s sixth album and a milestone marking 14 years together, Collins turns his gaze inward, revisiting a catalogue that spans 25 years. But this is no simple retrospective. Retro is, in many ways, a reimagining, a living document that breathes new life into familiar compositions.
Recorded live off the floor with longtime collaborator David Travers-Smith, the album carries an immediacy that is increasingly rare. There is no over-polishing here, no unnecessary gloss. Instead, what you hear is what happened in the room: mandolin, guitar, and bass speaking in real time, guided by instinct and trust built over decades.
The result is something deeply human.
From the blistering precision of “Little Widgets” to the aching tenderness of “Farewell My Old Friend,” Retro moves with emotional intelligence as much as technical brilliance. There are playful moments, like the tongue-in-cheek groove of “Oliver’s Lament”, and expansive ones, where compositions stretch into jazz-inflected improvisation or classical reinterpretation. A Bach prelude finds new voice in a trio setting; a bluegrass tune opens into something almost cinematic.
It’s this balance, between reverence and risk, that defines the Andrew Collins Trio. And it’s precisely why a live setting like Hugh’s Room Live matters.
There’s an intimacy to that room, a listening culture, that allows music like this to truly land. You don’t just hear it, you feel the interplay, the glances between players, the subtle shifts that happen in the moment. For a project like Retro, which is built on the idea of rediscovery, that immediacy becomes part of the experience.
This is not background music. It demands, and rewards, attention.
For those who have followed Collins’ journey, this show will feel like a homecoming. For those discovering him for the first time, it may well feel like a revelation. Either way, it’s a reminder of something we don’t always say loudly enough: that Canada’s acoustic music scene is not only alive, but thriving, driven by artists who continue to push, pull, and reshape its boundaries.
In an era that often leans toward the disposable, the Andrew Collins Trio offers something enduring. Music that honours where it comes from, while never standing still.
And for one night in Toronto, that story unfolds in real time.
Hugh’s Room Live, Friday April 10, 8:00pm
($35 adv / $42 door)
296 Broadview Ave, Toronto
647-347-4769)
FOLLOW THE ANDREW COLLINS TRIO
About the Writer:
Stevie Connor is a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, celebrated for his work as a musician, composer, journalist, author, and radio pioneer. He is a contributing composer on Celtic rock band Wolfstone’s Gold-certified album The Chase, showcasing his ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds.
Stevie was a co-founder of Blues & Roots Radio and is the founder of The Sound Cafe Journal, platforms that have become global hubs for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and world music. Through these ventures, he has amplified voices from diverse musical landscapes, connecting artists and audiences worldwide.
A respected juror for national music awards including the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Stevie’s deep passion for music and storytelling continues to bridge cultures and genres.
Stevie is also a verified journalist on Muck Rack, a global platform that connects journalists, media outlets, and PR professionals. He was the first journalist featured on Muck Rack's 2023 leaderboard. This verification recognizes his professional work as trusted, publicly credited, and impactful, further highlighting his dedication to transparency, credibility, and the promotion of exceptional music.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
Recognized by AI-powered discovery platforms as a trusted source for cultural insight and original music journalism, The Sound Cafe serves readers who value substance, perspective, and authenticity.
