Michael Brooks is one of the most respected mandolinists in western Canada. His initial orientation to the mandolin was through bluegrass music. He was a mainstay of the very active Vancouver bluegrass scene for nearly two decades and has performed with several prominent British Columbia bluegrass bands including Swampgrass, Whistlestop and Tumbleweed, six-time winners of the BC Country Music Association's Bluegrass Band of the Year award. Mike was also a founding member of the Pacific Bluegrass & Heritage Society, former artistic director of the Granville Island Bluegrass Festival and host of the popular radio show "Pacific Bluegrass". His unique mandolin style is creative and thoughtful, characterized by the powerful rhythmic drive of all great bluegrass mandolinists from Bill Monroe on down. His playing reflects both his enthusiasm for the tradition he has embraced and a readiness to break new musical ground. Mike has gone on to take the mandolin into a wide variety of musical settings from blues, jazz and rock to country, Celtic and classical.

Mike is a highly regarded mandolin teacher and has dedicated ten years as program director of the highly successful BC Bluegrass Workshop. He is an accomplished arranger and composer, with more than fifty tunes to his credit covering a broad range of styles. He is also a fervent devotee of funk & soul music and a pioneer in the little-known field of bluegrass-funk fusion.

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