Mike Vass & Innes Watson
New year, new calendar of artists at Irvine Folk Club and first up on Wednesday 7th January is Mike Vass & Innes Watson. Mike has played the Irvine Club before with his twin sister Ali and so it will be good to welcome him back.
From Nairn, Mike is an accomplished and highly regarded musician and composer. He plays fiddle, tenor guitar and mandolin and began learning the fiddle at school. From there he was taught by renowned fiddler Ian Hardie of Jock Tamson’s Bairns. That probably explains why Mike has two Mod Gold Medals to his name and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
For 10 years, Mike and twin Ali played as a duo. Now they both feature as members of the international ensemble Fiddle Rendezvous which includes the fabulous Bruce Molsky and Gerry O’Connor. In addition to that, Mike plays gigs as part of Blazin Fiddles and Malinky and also alongside Fiona Hunter. Sometimes he plays solo and on occasion with guitarist Innes Watson who will be at the Irvine Club. Mike also does workshops up and down the country.
In May 2014, Mike replicated a voyage off the West Coast of Scotland undertaken by Neil Gunn in 1937. Mike came up with the idea whilst recovering in hospital from a life-threatening condition and decided to follow Gunn’s route with the aim of finding inspiration for his own composing. He was joined on his voyage by various guest musicians including Innes Watson. The resulting album ‘In the wake of Neil Gunn’ has met with deserved acclaim.
Wednesday 7th January in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road is where to hear Mike Vass & Innes Watson. The club starts at 8pm and it’s still BYOB – but don’t forget the excellent café.