Tina Collins takes traditional mountain sounds like bluegrass and old-time country and tells stories such as the low-down feeling of losing love – but gives them a modern and personal viewpoint that makes them all her own. Tina Collins and her Pony play Fri., Nov. 19, starting around 7pm at Milagros Coffeehouse, on the corner of State Ave. and Main St. in Alamosa, presented by the Alamosa Live Music Association (ALMA). Tickets are $4 for ALMA members, $6 for the general public. Milagros is an enterprise of La Puente, and all profits from sales of food and beverages support La Puente’s programs of emergency shelter and homeless prevention.
Born and raised on the banks of the Ohio River, Collins has hiked the entire chain of the Appalachian Mountains and she sings the songs of those hills. Her music originates in these ancient mountains.
“That’s where a lot of seeds were planted for songs,” Collins told the Taos News. “I learned I can do anything, that we underestimate ourselves; that we underestimate how powerful we are every day. If we harness our power, we can do anything.” Passing through her feet and heart and out of her lips, her songwriting echoes bluegrass and old-time melodies that have been sung by generations of women before her. Collins draws listeners in with her velvety vocal magic as she sings.
Collins is currently performing with improvisational cellist Quetzal Jordan as Tina Collins & Her Pony. The vibrant duo met in Asheville, N.C. and immediately began touring coast to coast. They comfortably switch between guitar, banjo, cello and ukulele, leaving the audience refreshed and satiated. Strong singing and the deep sound of the cello take the listener on a journey through Appalachia and into the Sangre de Cristo region of the southern Rockies that they now call home. They are now promoting Collin’s debut album, “Journey Onward.”
Collin’s aunt is Taos singer-songwriter Jenny Bird, who has often entertained audiences and has a strong following in the San Luis Valley, and with whom Collins has collaborated.
Enjoy the Celebration of Lights downtown, stick around for Tina Collins’ show at Milagros, then visit the KRZA art auction at the San Luis Valley Brewing Co., all on Nov. 19.
Coming up, Don Richmond is scheduled to host a free sing-along featuring traditional carols and other music of the winter holiday season, Sat., Dec. 18, 7:30pm, at Milagros Coffeehouse. In its third year, this event is on its way to becoming a beloved valley tradition.
