Blue Rose Code

“Blue Rose Code is as slippery as an eel; a genre dodger; a mess of influences and contradictions. This rare display of soul and emotion will not be boxed, a sign of something special. - David Kushar of Spiral Earth. Edinburgh born Ross Wilson spent his creative formative years in East London, then moved to South England “to be by the sea’s energy” but it is in his homecoming that he has found where his heart is. Life wasn’t always simple for Wilson. “I have swapped one type of chaos for another” says Wilson. Wilson cites taking his last drink as the start of living rather than the end of the drinking. Now a committed enthusiast and creative whirling dervish, Wilson has seen the past few years produce his most exciting work including the album ‘THE BALLADS OF PECKHAM RYE’, which was nominated for the prestigious Scottish Album Of The Year Awards in 2014 and featured a roll-call of remarkable talent, including Danny Thompson, Karine Polwart, John Wetton, Aidan O’Rourke and Kathryn Williams. 'GRATEFUL', the first single from the new album, was released at the end of 2015 and was playlisted on BBC Radio Scotland for a full five weeks. In unprecedented fashion, the following two BRC singles were playlisted by Radio Scotland, making three in a row. Further praise has come from the most unexpected of quarters in Hollywood A-lister, Ewan McGregor. Ewan explained,“My uncle Denis Lawson, (star of Local Hero) gave me a copy of The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, it’s beautiful and I can’t stop listening to it.” McGregor is featured on the follow up album ‘...AND LO! THE BIRD IS ON THE WING’ along with Scotland’s Jazz and Folk greats, music legend Danny Thompson and Nashville Gospel singers, The McCrary Sisters. Speaking about the album, Wilson says, “It’s an album for music fans and musicians, a challenging record. I’m passionate about that fusion of folk and jazz and where it intersects with songwriting. Working with these musicians has been a game changer.” The Blue Rose Code game has certainly changed, they are heard regularly in session for the BBC (TV and Radio), STV, Alba, TG4, Virgin Radio. Live performance is where Blue Rose Code connects strongly with their audiences, they have toured the length and breadth of the UK selling out venues wherever they go and leaving a trail of fans in their wake. Featured in festivals Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Fringe, Looe, Summer Isles, Lindisfarne, Southern Fried, Underneath The stars. 2017 will see a new album released and a tour in support. Ross Wilson has spent most of his musical life curating; he sculpts his band to every mood and temperament in order to create the perfect happening. As the man at the helm of Blue Rose Code, he is, part director, part sculptor...total chameleon. "Imagine John Martyn meets a young Van Morrison shipwrecked with a crate of Chet Baker records" - Time Out