Liverpool-­‐born Colin Vearncombe is probably best known for his legendary hits ‘Wonderful Life’ and ‘Sweetest Smile’, but Black (Colin’s musical nom de plume) has released over 10 studio albums as well as several live albums in the past 25 years. 

Eclectic, slightly melancholic and always extremely classy, recent turbulence in his private life has resulted in a new level of maturity in both his personal outlook and in his music. A new studio album is in progress and he’s found a renewed vigour for performing live. This autumn will see a series of European concerts and a run of UK gigs. The venues are deliberately intimate affairs and will be acoustic double-­‐handers with long-­‐time friend and fellow musician, Calum MacColl. 

“Music is always about communication and these gigs are going to be up close, personal and as much about the audiences as it is about me,” says Colin. 

He has always been interested in trying something new; in 2011 he staged a gig in a recording studio in front of a live audience who left the gig with a professionally packaged CD and DVD of the performance. More recently, all the tracks on his last album ‘Any Colour You Like’ were chosen from his back catalogue by his fans. 
Unusually, Vearncombe has never actively chased commercial success; for him, when fans discover his music and like it, he’s happy. In a recent press interview, he questions the notion of success: “It’s never been about the money; music is about communication, it requires you to communicate, and when you make a record and it sells low, you can start wondering, ‘Did the message get lost?’ Strangely enough, I’ve been making more money over the past few years from lower sales. Does that makes me more or less successful than before?” 

Alongside his song writing and performing, other talents have surfaced -­‐ for acting, painting and poetry. He’s recently starred in a short film, is about to stage his third art exhibition and his first book of poetry ‘I Am Not The Same Person’, illustrated with his own paintings, will be published later this year .