Perthshire Amber Festival

Friday 30th Oct - Sunday 8th Nov 2009
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In 1998 internationally acclaimed Singer-songwriter and Composer Dougie MacLean was commissioned to write a piece of music for the Perth Festival of the Arts. He combined beautiful slow airs, majestic marches and toe-tapping reels and jigs with exquisite string arrangement by Kevin McCrae. What was born was described as "an irresistible tapestry of tunes, rhythms, instrumental and orchestral colours, harmonies and textures." (Michael Tumelty - The Herald). This composition was called 'Perthshire Amber'.
Perthshire is a beautiful county in he heart of Scotland, abundant with trees, lochs, rivers, mountains and moorland. It is the home of Dougie MacLean and many of his songs and melodies have been inspired by this land and the the people who surrounded him there in his youth and to this day. The Perthshire Amber Festival includes concert performances in an inspiring range of venues...from custom designed theatre to castles to an Iron Age crannog! It gives locals and visitors the opportunity to explore Perthshire with a focus, and for enthusiasts for Dougie MacLean's music to experience the place where he lives and gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of and inspiration for some of his songs and instrumental compositions.
'Amber' as a word is evocative of golden, rich, autumnal colour... something that Perthshire is renowned for. The Perthshire Amber Festival happens annually beginning on the last weekend in October, a perfect time to experience these colours!
The Perthshire Amber Festival brings together many musicians and entertainers from different parts of the world who have been involved with Dougie MacLean over the years. It also provides an opportunity for him to perform little heard songs, as well as well known favourites! From the first festival in 2005 Dougie has delivered, (as far as earthly possible!) his promise of "no song repeated"!!
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”Internationally renowned songwriter and composer Dougie MacLean has developed a unique festival which shares his inspiring music, celebrates the history and culture of Perthshire and showcases it's beautiful scenery. The concerts, which welcome high calibre musical guests from Scotland and abroad, are staged in a variety of wonderful venues, from theatre and castles to an Iron Age Crannog on Loch Tay to the atmospheric Dunkeld Cathedral”. (Scotsman)
“A festival with vision and imagination... and great momentum!” (Press & Journal)
“..A jewel of a festival - where contemporary song meets folk, roots and tradition” (Courier and Advertiser)
"Toweringly ambitious in its range and supremely testing in Dougie MacLean's promise not to repeat a single song, this weekend had something for every fan of music!” (edinburgh guide.com)