In the Wake of Neil Gunn

In 1937 Neil Gunn sold his house, quit his job and went off in an old converted lifeboat for a summer to inspire his writing; voyaging around the Western Isles. He wrote about the various communities on the way, and went on to become one of Scotland’s most prolific and creative fiction writers. This project will see Mike Vass use the month of May 2014 to undertake a mirror voyage, finding inspiration for his own composing and re-visiting the communities Neil Gunn wrote about, performing celebratory concerts there. He wants to inspire communities with Neil Gunn’s stories about them, inviting them to explore the changes that have taken place since the writer’s initial visit. The end result will be a new suite of music to be toured around Scotland.

The route will be planned around the locations visited by Neil Gunn as described in his book, Off in a Boat: Duntulm, Skye; Portnalong, Skye; Eigg; Arisaig; Tobermory; Bunessan; Iona; Oban; Kentallen; Fort William; and finally travel up the Caledonian Canal to reach Nairn for a homecoming celebration.