The 2011 Perthshire Amber Festival (28 October to 6 November), headed up by Scots singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean, has announced its line-up for Autumn this year. It includes rising star Emily Smith, Jimmie McGregor, Phil Cunningham, Archie Fisher and a host of familiar names from Scotland’s folk and trad scene, as well as Beoga from Ireland, Eliza Lynn from USA and Canadian Buddy MacDonald, all performing alongside Scotland’s Dougie MacLean.
Dougie MacLean is most widely known for his song 'Caledonia' and music for 'Last of the Mohicans'. He has performed worldwide - from New York's Carnegie Hall to London's Festival Theatre and The Sydney Opera House and his songs have been covered by Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Ronan Keating, Mary Black, Frankie Miller, Cara Dillon, Kathy Mattea to name a few.
His ten day festival, now in its seventh year, takes place in varied venues across Perthshire, such as village and town halls. Venues run from the grandiose Blair Castle and Castle Menzies to a tiny Iron Age Crannog, the new Caledonia Hall at Edradour Distillery and ancient Dunkeld Cathedral.
Maclean recently received two prestigious Tartan Clef Awards, a place in the Scottish Music Hall of Fame and an OBE in the 2011 New Year Honours list
“This year looks like being a really special one for me," says MacLean. "I will receive my OBE in July at Holyrood for services to music and charity and then a Danish Music Award presented at the Skagen Festival. I’ve got some great concerts and festivals during the summer and I’m really looking forward to playing with many dear friends and greatly talented musicians at Perthshire Amber later this year. I can’t wait to welcome everyone, from near and far to beautiful autumnal Perthshire once again.”
Perthshire Amber Highlights:
- Dougie MacLean with Friends - Moishe's Bagel, Jimmie MacGregor, Phil Cunningham, Kris Drever, John McCusker, Heidi Talbot on Saturday 5 November at Perth Concert Hall.
- Dougie MacLean OBE & Archie Fisher MBE….The Legends Concert at Blair Castle on Monday 31 October.
- The Cathedral Concert with the Jenna Reid Trio and Dougie MacLean with Greg Lawson & Pete Garnett in Dunkeld Cathedral on Thursday 3 November.
- Dougie MacLean with Strings and Choirs - Dougie's classic songs plus a performance of the wonderful instrumental composition "Perthshire Amber" featuring String InChorus and Lothian and Borders Police Choir at Perth Concert Hall on Friday 4 November.
Location
This year marks the move of the festival hub from Pitlochry down to Dunkeld.
“We are delighted to be moving the festival hub to Dunkeld –the special concert venues we’ve chosen just seem to radiate out from it! " says Jenny MacLean, who co-ordinates the festival team.
"Rest assured there’ll still be a wealth of activity going on in and around Pitlochry with great concerts at the Pitlochry Town Hall and at Edradour. We’re taking over the whole of The Royal Dunkeld Hotel with our admin base, session bars and restaurant on the ground floor with the Open Mic, Cabaret Amber and the Big Knit well housed in its spacious upstairs hall and lounge. Dunkeld is such a picturesque town, with an array of great places for music sessions, workshops and talks. The local businesses have been really supportive and are thrilled at the prospect of the large number of visitors. It is anticipated that some events will sell out very quickly, and though programming Perth Concert Hall as a venue for two very special concerts gives us some extra capacity, we’re urging early booking to avoid disappointment.”
Tickets
Book tickets for this year’s Perthshire Amber – The Dougie MacLean Festival online or on the ticket hotline on 01350 724 28.