Scottish fiddle player Mike Vass just revealed this lovely improvisation which features narration from Off in a Boat read by Stuart Edwards. It was from this book by Neil Gunn that Mike was inspired to launch his project ‘In The Wake of Neil Gunn’ in which he re-creates the three-month sea voyage taken by Gunn in 1937 around the Western Isles.
The video, music and words all combine together to make something very magical. Watch it below:
In The Wake of Neil Gunn culminates in an an album of the same title which is going to be very special as the tracks feature “found sound” recorded on the trip (from flapping flags to a diesel inboard) and live instruments captured later in the studio.
Mike plays tenor guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dulcitone, melodica and percussion. Joining him on the album are some of Scotland’s foremost traditional musicians – Iain Hutchison on piano (who also co-produced the release with Vass); Jennifer Port on oboe and clarsach (Celtic harp); Hamish Napier on flute and whistle and Euan Burton on electric and double bass. Adding to the filmic sound is The Cairn String Quartet of Katie Rush and Catherine Robertson on violin, Annemarie McGahon on viola and Susan Applebe on cello.
It is released on 20 October 2014 and is available as a CD or CD/Book package with lovely artwork and design by Lizzy Doe.
Pre-order it here: http://inthewakeofneilgunn.com/shop/
There is also an album launch tour in October:
07 Oct – The Byre Theatre, St Andrews
08 Oct – Eden Court, Inverness
09 Oct – St John’s Cathedral, Oban
10 Oct – SEALL, Isle of Skye
11 Oct – Lyth Arts Centre, Wick
More details here: http://inthewakeofneilgunn.com/dates/