Bio
Biography
At age 44, Wes Collins and his wife Anita made a pact to become writers: she started writing fiction and Wes penned his first song. A few years later, they were both multi-award-winners in their fields. Collins more than makes up for lost time with songs that dig deep and go to uncertain, sometimes scary places. Come for a haunting melody and some intricate fingerpicking and stay for the wit and deep literary intelligence. There is always more to find in a Wes Collins song.
Wes has played shows from coast to coast including: The Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville, TN; The Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX; the Cary Theater in Cary, NC (opening for Dave Olney); and many more. He is a winner of the prestigious Grassy Hills New Folk Competition and a North Carolina Arts Council Songwriting Fellowship, and has been featured as a finalist in The Telluride Troubadour Contest in Telluride, CO; The Songwriter's Serenade Competition in Moravia, TX; and The Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest in Dallas, TX.
Wes's recorded his third album Jabberwockies at Chris Rosser's Hollow Reed Arts Studio in Asheville, North Carolina, with special contributions by Ordinary Elephant and Jaimee Harris. Advance reviews for Jabberwockies are very positive and the album looks poised to surpass the success of his popular second album Welcome to the Ether.
Testimonials
"Wes Collins has a wonderful gift for telling stories from truly unique points of view. Every narrator in Jabberwockies reveals thoughts I've had but would certainly be terrified to express. Wes is a courageous songwriter. Wes also has that magical musical sensibility that makes me hit "repeat" on his songs. He makes my favorite records and he's one of my ultimate favorite musical artists." - Jaimee Harris
“Wes Collins’ songs have a way of circling around my mood and elevating it. His music makes me feel better, no matter how my day is going. I congratulate him on his new record Jabberwockies, a stellar collection of new songs, beautiful vocals, and glorious harmonies by Jaimee Harris and
Crystal Hariu-Damore. I can’t stop listening to it, I love it!" - Mary Gauthier
“He credits many other singer/songwriters in his musical tent as inspiration, including Neil Finn, Gillian Welch, Bruce Cockburn and Patty Griffin, but Collins is well on his way to establishing his own voice as one we should value." - North Carolina Arts Council
“One of the best songwriters in the Triangle’s vital Americana quadrant.” - David Menconi
2024 Kerrville Folk Festival Performing Artist
2024 Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance Showcase Artist
2021 Dripping Spring Songwriter Festival Artist
2019 Telluride Troubadour Finalist
2019 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist
2018 Wildflower Performing Songwriter Competition Finalist
2017 Songwriter Serenade 2nd Place Winner
2015 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk Winner
2013 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk Finalist
2012 North Carolina Songwriter Co-op Song Contest 1st Place Winner
Links:
EPK: https://wescollins.com/press-kit
Website: www.wescollins.com
Music: https://wescollins.com/music
Videos: https://wescollins.com/video
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wescollinsmusic
Contact info:
wes@wescollins.com
Phone: 919-260-0079