By Andras Paul, Rock At Night London
Live Review: Vanessa Collier with support by Laura Evans – January Blues Festival – 229 London – January 17, 2026
American blues artist Vanessa Collier brought her vibrant energy and masterful saxophone to London’s 229 venue on January 17, 2026, as part of the January Blues Festival series, which lights up the club throughout the month with top-tier blues acts.
Heading into the show, I didn’t know much about Collier beyond my love for the saxophone—so I figured it couldn’t go wrong. She proved that instinct right from the opening number, “Whiskey and Women,” showcasing her distinctive mastery on sax, complete with her signature vibrato that adds such soulful depth.
The connection with the audience kicked in early during “Take Me Back” (from her latest album, Do It My Own Way), when she encouraged everyone to clap along. That interactive spirit carried through the entire set, turning the performance into a genuine dialogue between Collier and the crowd, elevated by her impressive saxophone work and the fiery contributions of her longtime collaborator, Mighty Mike Schermer. His guitar solos were exceptional—delivered with such effortless playfulness that it felt almost casual, yet every note landed perfectly.
“I Can’t Stand the Rain” kept the momentum going, with Schermer stealing a moment before Collier fired back with her sax in a thrilling, teasing “duel.” Though clearly choreographed brilliance, it captured exactly what we came for: raw, joyful musical sparring that had the room buzzing.
Collier radiated genuine happiness at being there. “Vanessa!” chants rang out as she shared that this was her first time headlining in the UK as a Texan artist. She dedicated the empowering “What Makes You Beautiful”—one of her originals—to her sisters and to every woman who’s ever felt insecure about her appearance, delivering it with warmth and sincerity.
A brief pause followed as she switched instruments. The crowd fell hushed, watching her every move, until she quipped, “Damn, so quiet! I love quiet in Europe!” The room erupted in laughter and applause.
She spoke proudly about building her career independently from the ground up—an impressive feat that resonated deeply with everyone listening. Collier then introduced her tight band: Schermer on guitar, Justice Guevara on bass, and Byron Cage on drums, sharing a quick, personal story about each member.
After standout renditions of “When It Don’t Come Easy” and a few other crowd favorites, she paused again to express how thrilled she was to perform for us, even if many were discovering her for the first time. She promised to return to London soon.
A James Brown-inspired moment came next with her original “Tongue-Tied,” where she channeled the Godfather of Soul’s flair and energy to perfection.
The audience’s enthusiastic cheers and clapping brought her back for an encore. “Are you all ready to go down to New Orleans?” she called out—met with roaring affirmation. She closed the night with “Bad News Bears,” unleashing a killer saxophone solo that left no doubt about her command of the instrument.
Vanessa Collier’s performance was a fresh, shining highlight for Britain’s ever-curious blues fans—a dynamic blend of soul, blues, and pure personality that made converts out of us all.
PHOTO GALLERY
Andras Paul came from a traditional art background back in Hungary. He studied drawing, painting and animation and later began his interest in photography too.
Open to any kind of gig with decent music-- let it be a big concert or the smallest darkest pub on earth.
- Fantastic Negrito Brings Soul Fire to London’s January Blues Festival - January 24, 2026
- Vanessa Collier’s UK Debut: A Sax-Driven Triumph at the January Blues Festival - January 18, 2026
- Robben Ford Lights Up London: Blues Magic at 229 - January 16, 2026
