Following the 4 sell-out concerts in the Highlands earlier this year Dougie MacLean is thrilled to be performing at the new An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway on Friday 25th November 2005. Over the last 12 years Dougie and his family have spent as much time as they can on the West Coast of Lewis & have formed strong bonds with the Isle of Lewis – with the land itself & friendships they have made there.

Described a few years ago in the USA as “Scotland’s best kept secret!”(Wall Street Journal) Dougie MacLean is in fact one of Scotland’s foremost contemporary musicians…and 2005 has been an extremely good year for him so far! His latest commission “Rural Image” (A SongVision Symphony) was premiered in January at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to a rapt audience and great critical acclaim. In February there was an NPR “Thistle & Shamrock” special about his music, and his standing within the UK music industry was recognised at a special reception in Buckingham Palace during March!..(along with Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, George Martin, Oasis, Kate Bush, Robert Plant etc…). During May, universally acclaimed singer song writer Lou Reed performed at the Gala Concert at Culzean Castle, Scotland, as part of this years prestigious Burns An' A' That! Festival, alongside Scotland’s successful performers…Dougie MacLean, Eddi Reader and Phil Cunningham as well as the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Dougie MacLean has built an international reputation as songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer on his own terms. He has over the years responded to a demand for what he alone can create. This has taken his performance to concerts and festivals all over the world and to the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York. His songs and compositions have been heard far and wide of late…Caledonia was covered by Frankie Miller and gained No 1 in the Scottish charts, then Dolores Keane took it to No 1 in the Irish charts, Turning Away featured in the Jennifer Lopez film “Angel Eyes”, Ready for the Storm was covered by Grammy award winning country singer Kathy Mattea and Ireland’s Deanta, Broken Wings was covered by Mary Black, This Love Will Carry by Frances Black and his melody The Gael featured in the film The Last of the Mohicans… His music has been used in TV Drama (e.g. BBC’s A Mug’s Game) and he has been the subject of three BBC TV Specials (The Land-Songs of Dougie MacLean, SongRoads and Children of the Sea).

Maclean’s last album of new songs “Who Am I” has been described as “stunningly produced”… “profound yet positive songs for a new millennium” In 2004 he released Dougie MacLean “Early” and Dougie MacLean “With Strings”. He has just recorded a new album of songs "Into the Thunder" and is working on his first DVD.

Along with his artist wife Jennifer, this man of extraordinary energy also has an independent record label, recording studio and publishing company. All this will help to explain the wide appeal of MacLean’s music, described as “…a Scottish phenomena” (Performing Songwriter) and “a musical hero” (Wall Street Journal), whose CDs sell all over the world and whose website is as well visited as major charts performers.

Audiences world wide are still discovering this man’s meaningful songs, unique voice and enigmatic performance, and he seems to be filling venues wherever he performs! His values are admired, his songs genuinely touch lives and his lyrics relate to modern dilemmas that are faced by us all…his music is for thinking people of all ages. During August he performed to sell-out, enthusiastic audiences at the Queens Hall during the Edinburgh Festival and with his band at festivals the Pontadawe Festival (Wales) and Tonder Festival (Denmark). In September 05 Dougie MacLean headlined at Proms in the Park in Glasgow, performing with his own band alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Youth Choir. During October his very own annual festival “Perthshire Amber-The Dougie MacLean Weekend” took place in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in his home county of Perthshire in Scotland! Dougie also had 3 tours throughout the year in the USA with performances at festivals and wonderful theatre venues from Colorado to New York City!