Rogue Folk Club
Presents Dougie MacLean
By KATHY WOOD
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PHOTO: Steve Edge
DOUGIE MACLEAN and his guitar melting in the early evening sun at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival a few years back.
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Dougie MacLean is Scotland's pre-eminent singer-songwriter and a national musical treasure says Britain's TimeOut.
Last year marked 25 years since the release of his album Craigie Dhu, on his own Dunkeld Records label. This launched Dougie as a solo artist after his early career as a member of the pioneering Scottish bands Silly Wizard and the Tannahill Weavers.
It was a stunning song from that album called Caledonia which made his music known to literally millions. Frankie Miller's version of the song topped the Scottish charts in 1992, prompting its widespread adoption as Scotland's unofficial national anthem.
During this time MacLean's resonant voice, melodic craft, and timelessly soulful songwriting have been heard in formats ranging from full-scale orchestra to one man and his guitar in concerts and festivals world-wide, including New York's Carnegie Hall and London's Festival Theatre.
His songs have been covered by Paolo Nutini, Cara Dillon, Amy Macdonald, Kathy Mattea, Mary Black and Dolores Keane, among many others.
His most recent studio album, 2005's Inside the Thunder, was praised by Dirty Linen as "a delectable palette of colours and moods... sometimes wistful and melancholic, and at other times blissfully uplifting and rejuvenating."
He has featured in three BBC televison specials, has written for television drama and film (his tune The Gael featured in The Last of the Mohicans).
MacLean is touring North America with his recently released double-disc compilation The Essential Dougie MacLean, which includes tracks from all phases of his career up to and including Thunder.
On March 30, the Rogue Folk Club will present Dougie MacLean at St. James Hall, located at 3214 West Tenth Avenue, Vancouver. Tickets are $28 ($25 members).
Steve Edge of the Rogue Folk Club says, "Way back in 1986, we were asked to present a Dougie MacLean concert.
"Expo 86 had just closed, and a huge vacuum had opened up - both for performers and audience members who for six months had enjoyed such opportunity to perform or applaud some stellar musicians.
"We booked the former La Quena coffee house on Commercial Drive and Dougie put on a wonderful concert. At one point, he was playing guitar and didgeridoo simultaneously. There were only about 30 people there, but we all enjoyed it, and every time he's been back since we've had a full house. So book early!"
To book tickets to see Dougie MacLean on March 30, visit www.roguefolk.bc.ca, or call (604) 736-3022. For more information about Dougie MacLean, visit www.dougiemaclean.com.
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