The Legend that is Dougie MacLean will set Oban’s Mossfield Stadium alight as he joins Skerryvore in marking their 10th anniversary with the gig of the decade.
Fast looking like the biggest concert ever in Oban – this news is set to make it just that.
The special celebration open air concert, Skerryvore: Decade, takes place on 30th May 2015 and will see MacLean, the man most famous for writing ‘Caledonia’, join the multi-award winning folk-rock band from Tiree on stage alongside other renowned Celtic music acts such as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Sharon Shannon, Skipinnish, Scott Wood Band, and Trail West.
If that were not enough Gaelic Chantreuse Mary Ann Kennedy, singer Jill Jackson and piper Stuart Cassells head a host of special guests for the biggest day in Skerryvore’s list of very big days they have experienced since they formed in 1995.
Less than 1000 tickets to the anniversary concert were available as we went to print - from the Skerryvore Decade website here.
Daniel Gillespie, front man and accordion player says: ‘Dougie is one of the most respected musicians across the globe and has an enviable career that has spanned across many decades. We get a fantastic response from fans when covering Caledonia so can’t wait to be finally sharing a stage with the man himself and giving those attending a real treat.’
The response has touched the hearts of the band.
‘We’re really overwhelmed by the support we’ve had from fans attending the gig – from the original ticket allocation selling out in under 30 minutes and doubling the capacity, to those traveling from across the globe to help us celebrate – we can’t thank people enough’, says Daniel.
And the man from Dunkeld is pretty excited too.
‘It’s brilliant to be part of Skerryvore’s 10th anniversary gig, I’ve played festivals with the band but we’ve never shared a stage so it will be a completely unique performance. The line-up is cracking and those attending are in for an electric atmosphere with a few surprises thrown in – looking forward to what’s going to be a great night in Oban’ – says Dougie Maclean.
What a weekend it will be in the Gateway to the Isles – Scotland’s seafood capital – as so many roads will lead to the stadium more famous for hosting big shinty occasions.
Naturally the pitch and the hallowed turf will be well protected with specialist coverings so that the ‘clash of the ash’ matches and the Argyllshire Gathering, held later in the summer will be unaffected.
All together now…
‘Oh, but let me tell you that I love you,
That I think about you all the time,
Oban – you’re calling me…..
And now I’m going home’
Ach. Dougie will approve…I bet.’
Campbell Cameron, Music Editor
Skerryvore Decade is being organised in association with Bid4Oban and travel provider CalMac.
With accommodation in the Oban area selling out fast – check what is available from the Skerryvore Decade website here.
Note: The photograph of Dougie MacLean above was taken in September 2011 by Di Snider of Blairgowrie’s Tourist Information Centre and is reproduced here under the Creative Commons Licence.
