Biog

Ollie Collins hails from Cheshire England, just south of the musical metropolis that is Manchester.  Ollie’s enthusiasm towards music began at the age of ten, including himself in his older brothers’ band “The Bullets”, jamming along with the remaining bass strings on his dad’s student guitar! On his eleventh birthday Ollie’s parents surprised him with a brand-new bass guitar and amp from which point……..things got serious.

In an effort to widen his knowledge of music, Ollie attended Leeds College of Music where he studied Jazz performance. During his time at college, he picked up the double bass, brushed up on his reading skills and started to record and produce his own music.

After a paying dues working summer seasons at holiday centres and cruise ships orchestras, Ollie established himself in the Manchester music scene as well as working “in house” at numerous studios in North West England. 

One of those studio jobs involved writing and performing bass and Chapman Stick with a band called Iconic Phare under the internationally acclaimed producer Alan Parsons. Other sessions around town lead to recording credits with Latin/House artists such as; Jersey Street, Mettle Music and All Round the World Records

International touring dates followed with Big Finn, Holly Lerski, Angie Palmer, Carmel, Parlour Flames a band fronted by Vinny Peculiar and Bonehead (ex- Oasis) as well as the Doves splinter group Black Rivers who toured Europe and America.

The addition of double bass to his arsenal afforded Ollie the opportunity to work with symphony orchestras such as the Manchester Hallé and Camerata and tenor vocalist Russell Watson.

Two of Ollie’s regular gigs include tribute shows Nearly Dan (Steely Dan) and Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell) as well as various local bands The Castaways (Ska Reggae) and Tipitina (New Orleans style groove).

In between freelancing, Ollie produced two self-titled albums “Make Time Last” and “A New Direction” where he performs several instruments as well as lead vocals.  Ollie continues to write and record music from his home studio where he also performs sessions for artists and bands remotely.