The American Deep south blues style guitarist, Doc MacLean, will be touring South Africa in November. He will be playing from Pretoria to Knysna, so be sure to catch him in action!
Who is Doc MacLean?
MacLean is the son of civil rights lawyer and harmonica player. Growing up with a parent like that almost ensured that Doc would become a “Blues Man” one day.
He spent his early teens playing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and at festivals. He was also a regular on radio and television variety shows.
In 1972, he and Colin Linden formed a duo and opened for acts like Muddy Waters and John Hammond. The pair famously traded in a guitar for an old dodge and set off to explore America.
During his travels, Doc met, and became friends with, older players like Son House, Tampa Red, and Robert Pete Williams.
“Who I am what I do and what I carry was gifted to me by the grandchildren of slaves,” says MacLean. “I’m a small link in a big, unbroken chain.”
In those early years, Doc went on to accompany Peg Leg Sam the Medicine Show Man, Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim and Rev Pearly Brown, to name just a few.
Flying Fish, a record label based in Chicago, published all of the records that Doc appeared on during this period.
In 2006 Doc moved to Canada. It was around this time that he released his critically acclaimed album, Narrow House. The album was produced by Colin Linden and featured guest performances by bassist Larry Taylor and drummer Stephen Hodges. At the time both Linden and Taylor were the core of the Tom Waits Band.
Touring
Since then Doc has gone on to perform at over 200 venues each year, spread out over Canada and the USA. Doc wanted a change of venue and has decided to come to Africa.
Doc’s touring motto is that no venue is too large or too small. In other words, he’ll even play at places lost in the folds of the map!
For more information or any media related inquiries please contact [email protected] or check out Doc’s Website.
Tour Dates and Venues
