‘Dougie captured the mood with his embracing warm and spiritual voice’
He has
become something of a legend for many in Scotland and his songs have deep
connections to the land. Dougie grew up in Perthshire where he now runs the MacLean Perthshire Amber festival –
his grandfather was a shepherd and his father a gardener. Both his parents
taught him the love of music – his mother played melodeon and his father fiddle.
His family came from Mull, where they were
crofters. Dougie now
runs the old school both he and is father attended, as his studio.
For his
first set he sang songs from his new album, 'New Tomorrow’ along with older
favourites -
‘Shadow of
the Mountain’, ‘Talking with my Father’ when he spoke of his father walking
over the moors to school. He spoke of his travels to gig at many far flung
places. He sang of
the ‘Singing Land’ (Shine on Your Singing Tree), 'Holding On', 'Feel So Near', and 'Holding Back'.
And a moving song too to his
grandson ‘New Tomorrow’ with the words – If
time will be our friend / I’ll help you to defend/ Your new tomorrows. If fear should enter in /You’ll find
me hiding in the wings / Ever near you.
His Encore song was ‘This Love will Carry me.'
His ’Caledonia’ has become part of Scottish culture – and is sung at weddings, major events and played at the Edinburgh Tattoo. He wrote this song while on a French beach and thinking of his Scottish homeland. He is also a passionate supporter of freedom for Scotland. One fan spoke of the emotions at Stirling castle Hogmanay event a few years ago when Dougie played Caledonia at the new year and hoped that Westminster might hear the singing!
Dougie knows
the beauty of keeping things simple – with catchy choruses and also hidden
depths.
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| the Friel Sisters |
