“Dougie MacLean is Scotland's pre-eminent singer-songwriter and a national musical treasure” (TimeOut UK)

"...a Scottish phenomenon...with his exquisite guitar style, expressive voice and honest performance, his songs conjure up remarkably vivid imagery of our world" (The Performing Songwriter, USA)

Dougie MacLean is touring in Eastern Australia in December 08-January 09 with concert and festival appearances from Cygnet Festival in Tasmania to Woodford Festival in Queensland via Melbourne and Sydney and various other lucky towns.

"Dougie MacLean is a Celtic-infused singer-songwriter who has established one of the strongest cult followings of any performer on the contemporary scene" (SingOut USA)

This will be his first tour in in Australia in over 10 years but Dougie explains "that's more because life took my concerts to other countries... the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe ...than because I didn't want to be in Australia. I love Australia - the light, heat, the landscape and the audiences! My wife Jenny is Australian and ever since our children were wee babies we've loved visiting. Now it's time for an Oz tour again!"

This year of 2008, marks 25 years since Dougie's first tour in Australia. It's also 25 years since the release of Dougie MacLean’s album Craigie Dhu, on his own Dunkeld Records label which launched him as a solo artist after his early career as a member of the pioneering Scottish bands Silly Wizard and the Tannahill Weavers. And it was a stunning song from that album called "Caledonia" which made his music known to literally millions, when Frankie Miller’s version 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 covers by Paolo Nutini, Cara Dillon, Amy Macdonald, Kathy Mattea, Mary Black and Dolores Keane, among many others. His own 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 3 BBC TV Specials, has written for TV Drama and film (his tune "The Gael" featured in 20th C Fox "The Last of the Mohicans").

He will be touring in Australia with his recently released double-disc compilation "The Essential Dougie MacLean", which includes tracks from 'Thunder'.

Described as “ …a musical hero” (Wall Street Journal) MacLean is renowned for the uniqueness of his meaningful, haunting and emotion-filled music.

"Strong yet subtle, hauntingly evocative yet contemporary in feel, this music demands listening to over and over again." (Time Out, UK)

“..his is a name that certainly deserves to be even more widely known. And when Dougie MacLean came to the Lobero Theatre last Saturday he ensured that his name- just like his heart rending music- won’t easily be forgotten.” (Independent, Santa Barbara CA)

…and of The Dougie MacLean Band… “The vibe was dripping from the place…they were practically taking off their shoes and dancing!…Dougie Maclean really casts a spell!” (The Red Alert, San Diego CA)

“…it’s the music that pulls you in, a brilliant weave of sensitivity, a solid worldview and lively instrumental playing” (Vision Magazine, USA)