HELLO

Thanks for visiting my website. My name is Ollie Collins I’m a bass player from Manchester UK.  

I started playing bass when I was 11 years old and formed my first band with my brother called "The Bullets"! Fast forward to 1993 when I went to Leeds College of Music where learnt the double bass as well as other tricks of the trade, such as reading and improvising over jazz changes. After a couple of years of playing gigs overseas I returned to Manchester where I now live and work. 

Bass Playing 

My main ethos when it comes to playing the bass is to be solid and reliable. However I'm also in to a variety of sounds, styles and textures such as fretless and extended range basses. As well as playing bass guitar and double bass. I also play guitar, sousaphone and I also sing. I read both dots and chord charts and have plenty of experience working in Theatre and on TV. 

Most Recent & Current Projects

My main current gig is with Manchester band Black Rivers. Black Rivers is a new project from Andy & Jez Williams with Martin Rebelski from Doves.

The band has a self titled album released and we have been touring the UK and Eurpoe opening arena shows Elbow and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Black Rivers is also touring in May 2015 then playing some Festivals over the summer.

Who I've Work With: (in order of who I can Remember) 

Black Rivers, Nearly Dan, Bigfinn, Angie Palmer, Badly Drawn Boy, Corrine Bailey Rae, Jersey Street, Craig Owen, Ian Lang, Sax Assault, Bob Mintzer, Branford Marsalis, Gwillam Simcock, Simon Willescroft, The Elliot Henshaw Band, Classique, Jooks, Subterranea, Akoustrick, Turn It Loose, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Alan Parsons, Iconic Phare, Ray Quinn, Danii Minoque, New Order, Mettle Music, Soularis, Hed Kandi, Kenny Thomas, Rebelski, Holly Lerski, Planet Groove, James Morrison, The Commitments, Cherry Ghost and "Parlour Flames" - a band featuring Bonehead (Ex Oasis) and Vinny Peculiar.

Where I've Played 

I've played in all sorts of places from tiny coffee shops to 20 thousand capacity outdoor arenas. Notable venues/events: Glastonbury Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Montreux Jazz Festival, Royal Albert Hall, London Astoria, Hammersmith Apollo, Manchester Apollo, Manchester Academy, Manchester GMEX, Manchester Arena, O2 Arena, , Belfast Odyssey Arena, 02 Indigo Club, 606 Club, Pizza In The Park, World Sax Congress, London Olympia and more locally…..the Manchester Jazz Festival. 

My Music 

I have two albums out under my own name. "Make Time Last" recorded in 2002 and "A New Direction" 2008. Both records comprise of original material featuring various bass instruments. There are also songs with me singing! I was lucky and honored to work with some great friends/musicians on these projects, check out my brother site olliecollins.com For More Details. More recently in 2009 my band "Akoustrick" have a listen here. 

CD's are available to buy via the Music page or CD Baby links to the right. You can also download tracks from places like itunes.   

As far as gigs go.....I’m currently collaborating and playing my material with the DB Five and Akoustrick. Please visit my MySpace page to see when we are playing next.  

Other Projects

My passion is to create and play original music. The artists featured on the projects page Angie Palmer, Sax Assault and Bigfinn are my current outlets, so please have a look.