Dougie MacLean

Dougie MacLean

Dougie MacLean is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Dunblane, Scotland. His work sits across celtic, contemporary folk, folk and singer-songwriter traditions, and he is known for a large back catalogue and a strongly accented voice.

Career

MacLean begins his professional career playing with the Tannahill Weavers in 1976. In the early 1980s he is briefly part of Silly Wizard, and his solo career starts in 1981. His first album release is Craigie Dhu in 1983, although he records earlier albums such as Snaigow and Fiddle, which are issued later.

Music and instruments

He plays harp, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, didgeridoo and guitar. His songs often focus on Scottish themes, including the Highland Clearances, and he also campaigns for Aboriginal and Native American causes.

Notable songs and recordings

MacLean is closely associated with “Caledonia”, a song used in a Scottish Tourist Board advert and widely identified with Scotland. Another major work is “The Gael”, from the 1990 album The Search, which Trevor Jones adapts as the main theme for the 1992 film Last of the Mohicans.

Later life and recognition

MacLean lives in Dunkeld, Perthshire, and is linked with The Taybank Hotel, where a music bar displays his memorabilia and serves as a venue for folk music enthusiasts. In 2011 he is invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).