Tour Dates for Mike Vass

MIKE VASS RELEASES TOUR DATES FOR HIS TRADITIONAL ARTS COMMISSION, ‘IN THE WAKE OF NEIL GUNN’

In 1937, Neil Gunn spent a summer sailing Scotland’s West Coast, seeking inspiration for his writing, and published Off in a Boat, in 1938. This May, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Vass set off on his own voyage inspired by Gunn as part of a new traditional arts commission sponsored by Creative Scotland. This October will see the touring of this commission and release of a new album.

Named Composer of the Year in the 2012 Scots Trad Music Awards, Vass’s music has become known for its inventive approach to the Scottish tradition. He has recently toured with Scots band Malinky, in a duo with sister Ali, and with International super group Fiddle Rendezvous.

During a prolonged period of time in hospital in 2013, Mike read Gunn’s book, Off in a Boat, and the idea for the project was sparked.
Says Mike: “I found Gunn’s book utterly inspirational and immediately started planning my own version of the trip.”

Supported by Enterprise Music Scotland, Creative Scotland, Calmac Ferries and Gunn’s publishers House of Lochar, Mike set off from the Isle of Skye across the west coast and back up the Caledonian Canal to his hometown Nairn, revisiting the same coastal communities as Gunn and performing several concerts.

Mike has worked hard in the studio to compose and record a new album inspired by the journey. He will now tour the album ‘Mike Vass – In the wake of Neil Gunn’, which will be released on October 20th 2014. The tour, starting on the 7th October will visit locations across Scotland including the 8th of October for Inverness.

Full Dates

7th October, 7.30pm, The Byre Theatre, St Andrews

8th October, 8pm, Eden Court, Inverness

9th October, 7.30pm, St. John’s Cathedral, Oban

10th October, 7.30pm, SEALL at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye

11th October, 8pm, Lyth Arts Centre, Wick