Dougie McLean

I discovered Dougie MacLean by accident. In 1997 I was visiting one of my favourite places on earth, Dunkeld, when I spotted a record shop in the village. I thought to myself, “Dunkeld has become a bit modern with a record shop called Dunkeld Records.” Naturally, I couldn’t resist checking it out, expecting to find some chart-busting hits of the day and maybe a hidden gem or two.

The treasure I discovered in that shop was something far more surprising; and rewarding. It was the home of Dougie MacLean and his wonderful music. It was also the salesroom for his wife Jennifer’s beautiful artwork– talk about a power couple! This Celtic songwriter appealed to me and I bought a cassette of his album Riof for my car.

This beautiful and haunting album had everything that ticked my boxes and what little hair was left on the back of my neck to really stand up. The Celtic whistles, strings and drums inspired a flavour within my music that I had not discovered before. They strongly influenced the sound I decided on for my Hermitage Suite. I had just, that very morning, written the song Ossian’s Hall in the shower of the campsite where I was camping. Word had just broken of the death of Princess Diana and every person on the campsite seemed shocked by the news. 

I played my tape in the car. Here I discovered a true master craftsman. Songs such as ‘She Will Find Me’, ‘Feel So Near’, ‘Stepping Stones’ and ‘Stolen’ really shone from this album. I was hungry for more. I purchased many more of his albums over the years. Tribute and Craigie Dhu were roads that led to the brilliant Perthshire Amber which proved to be a record that literally drove me to tears. Such is the power of Dougie MacLean. 

Here is a songwriter who is totally in tune with his environment and its established historical culture. His mastery of the traditional instruments of Scotland and Ireland and his ability to weave their sounds into his music was achieved to perfection. The combination of Australian and Scottish influences thanks to his wife being Australian is another wonderful fusion.   

Dougie’s most famous song is Caledonia which is a song that could arguably become the new Scottish National Anthem when this beautiful country inevitably one day finds its independence from the UK. One doesn’t need a crystal ball to see that this will eventually happen. 

When I was completing my Master’s degree I was very impressed with Dougie’s way of marketing and selling his music. I telephoned Butterstone and got some fantastic advice from Dougie’s daughter Julia on music sales using the internet and was able to quote a very credible and successful model in my dissertation. 

I have had the privilege of seeing Dougie perform on many occasions including Ripon Cathedral and The Sage. His shows always deliver warm and intimate performances that mesmerise his audiences in a similar way to the late great Vin Garbutt. Over lockdown, Dougie began streaming concerts from his studio in Butterstone. He has continued to do so and he is able to deliver that expected musical intimacy just as well online as in person. True brilliance indeed. 

If you are yet to discover this incredible musician for the first time then I am very jealous. I know in advance the wonders that you are about to uncover. I have always felt a close affiliation with all things Celtic. My recent DNA results have established that my ancestry is 50% Irish and 30% Scottish, it is no wonder that these sounds appeal so much to me.  

With the release of the enhanced Hermitage Suite 25th Anniversary re-release just around the corner it has been wonderful to listen through the tracks and see just how much Dougie has influenced the sound of this record. Lesson to be learned here: when in a new town, check the local culture as you never know where it will lead you too.

Here is a playlist of some of Dougie’s finest tracks. Check out his website for more wonders.