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Image of Mike storytellingImage of Mike playing violin.

Tunes, Songs, Stories, Teaching, Research

"Playing as delicate as cut-lace work"

Sara Grey

"Clear and beautiful as well water"

Peter Bonser

"A bonny fiddle player"

Willie Taylor

“Balm for the soul” 

Jon Heslop

"Most Unexpected!"

Will Atkinson

"Superb fiddle" and "Something in the soul"

Living Tradition

 “He has the conyach” 

Belle Stewart
“Aye, ye have the mysie” 

Stanley Robertson
“An excellent storyteller,” and “Tell them for me” 

Duncan Williamson
“Inspirational”

 Taffy Thomas MBE,  first storytelling laureate

  • Soloist: Mike is a prizewinning competition fiddle player, with a stimulating style & refreshing lightness of touch. He is a master of the concertina. His tunes are in print in 'Piran's Welcome'
  • Duo: Mike regularly works with harper & viol player Barbara Griggs, a magical combination of talents & instruments.
  • Stories: Mike tells spell-binding stories, many with musical accompaniment, for both adult & schools audiences. His tales vary from 5 minute fireside tales to epics such as Return to Lyonesse, Tristan & Iseult, Imravoe, the Tales of the Holy Rood, & Loki. He is one of the few in the land capable of delivering such epic tales and sagas. He is the author of the best selling 'Cornish Folk Tales' published by History Press. In 2013, with Barbara Griggs he won a British Award for Storytelling Excellence for 'Return to Lyonesse'.
  • Songs: Mike's vivid songs have been recorded & sung by artists such as Martyn Wyndham-Read, Johnny Collins, Kathy Wallis, Mike Nicholson, Sarah Morgan & many more. Mike produced & directed the iconic folk operas 'The Cry of Tin', 'Unsung Heroes' & 'Cornish Lads'.
  • Workshops: Mike is a friendly, approachable & very experienced workshop leader, used to working with adults & children in festival, educational & community work.
  • Accompanist: Over the years Mike has gained a reputation as a sensitive & responsive accompanist for Sarah Morgan, Johnny Collins, the Dunns, Jake Walton, Anne Lister & Martyn Wyndham-Read.
  • Research: Mike is the leading researcher of Cornish instrumental music. He has studied at the Institute of  Cornish Studies, Exeter University & writes for learned journals & popular magazines on subjects relating to folklore.  Mike is honoured to have been awarded the OBE & has been made a bard of the Gorseth of Cornwall.* In 2009 he was awarded the Henwood medal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall.
  • Performance History:  Mike has worked as a musician since the 1970s & a story teller since the 1990s. He has worked in arts centres, at festivals, in schools, community halls & private venues. He has worked for English Heritage, and the National Trust and has been a resident storyteller for the Forestry Commission & has made many recordings & radio broadcasts. His recent gigs are listed on this site.
Image of Mike singing and playing concertina.

Gig List

Brought up in Wales & London, Mike lived in Scotland for many years before moving to Cornwall. Mike is an aviator, sailor & mountaineer. 
He has travelled widely researching his material. In Southern Africa he followed the footsteps of Laurens van der Post & in Wales those of naturalist Ludwig Koch.
He followed the course of Sir Francis Chichester across the Indian Ocean. He has charmed snakes in Singapore & the Bahamas, & called seals in Orkney & Cornwall.










 

*The Gorseth exists solely to uphold the Celtic traditions of Cornwall & to honour men & women who have made outstanding contributions to Cornwall & its ancient culture, history & language.
It is non-political & non-profit-making, is not affiliated to any religion, & is unconnected with Druidism or pagan practice.