Dougie MacLean
With more than 45 years as a touring professional musician, Scotland’s “pre-eminent singer, songwriter and national treasure” (Singout, USA), Dougie MacLean will make a welcome return to mark the 40th Shetland Folk Festival. He first appeared at the Festival back in 1986 and returned 20 years later in 2006. Originally famed for writing the much loved anthem, Caledonia, MacLean has built an international reputation as a songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer, and has wowed audiences all over the world including on the prestigious stages of Carnegie Hall in New York, London’s Festival Theatre and the Sydney Opera House.
Dougie’s beautiful songcraft has been covered by hosts of artists including Scottish stars Paolo Nutini & Amy MacDonald, Irish greats Ronan Keating, Mary & Frances Black and Cara Dillon, and Grammy award winning US country singer Kathy Mattea. His anthem ‘Caledonia’ has topped the Scottish charts and become one of Scotland’s most loved contemporary songs. His music has been used in TV dramas and many films such as ‘Last of the Mohicans’, Jennifer Lopez film ‘Angel Eyes’ and iconic film ‘T2 Trainspotting’. Dougie has had the honour of performing ‘Caledonia’ at the Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, followed by Auld Lang Syne where he was joined by Kylie Minogue, Lulu and Deacon Blue – performances that were believed to have been viewed by over one billion people worldwide. He has also performed at Holyrood Palace for HRH the Prince of Wales and also on the BBC Hogmanay programme from Edinburgh Castle with James Taylor.
Dougie was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list in recognition of his services to music and charity. He has also recently received two prestigious Tartan Cleff Awards, been inducted into the Scottish Music Hall of Fame and given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the BBC.
