Coming in 2019.... The brand new album

Have a listen to the first track here

It was a real thrill to bring 'The Four Pillars' to the Scots Fiddle Festival on Friday.

Thanks to Lauren MacColl Patsy Reid Jenna Reid and the rest of the team for their inspiring playing and huge contribution in bringing the project to life.

Thanks also to the Fiddle Festival and Creative Scotland for supporting the project

We've had two lovely reviews in the Scottish National press today.

Have a read of Rob Adam's Herald feature to find out what really happened on the night

and check out Jim Gilchrist's Scotsman feature for a review of the Four Pillars and a summary of the whole festival weekend

Mike has been nominated in the Scots Trad Music Awards 'Instrumentalist of the Year' category alongside Laura Wilkie, Patsy Reid and Calum Stewart

Read about all the nominees here https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/shortlists-announced-for-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2018/

and cast your votes here

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Scotstrad2018

On the 16th November 2018 I will premiere my newly commissioned piece 'The Four Pillars' at the Scots Fiddle Festival.

Newly Commissioned by the Scots Fiddle Festival and supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund, The Four Pillars is a multi-media experience and musical suite from Scottish musician Mike Vass. Based on the four major tune types of the Scottish fiddle tradition - the slow air, the march, the strathspey and the reel - Mike’s piece captures the grandeur of Scottish fiddle music. The performance features an ensemble of four solo fiddle players (Mike, Patsy Reid, Lauren MacColl and Jenna Reid) each performing one movement, accompanied by string quartet, piano and tuned percussion with a film element as well as sampled spoken word excerpts.

The concert is on Friday 16th November at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh. 7.30 - 10pm with an opening slot from Ryan Young and Jenn Butterworth. Link here to tickets. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3609153

The Scots Fiddle Festival was launched in 1996 with the aim to promote and sustain traditional fiddle music. The festival brings people together from all over the world, both performers and audience members and continues to inspire thousands of people to enjoy and take part in traditional music each year.

2018 sees the festival moving to a new home at The Pleasance Theatre, coming back under one roof, a desire expressed by many of our supporters. Following feedback we have made a few changes this year, simplified ticketing being the major one. The Pleasance café and bar will be available all day and into the evening, and there is more space for ad hoc tunes, should you wish. What has not changed is a quality weekend, run and organised by dedicated volunteers, a friendly place to meet and enjoy good music, be it listening, playing or performing