Time: 9 p.m.

 Cover: $10

http://centurybluestour.blogspot.com

Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean are pleased to report that their National Steel “Century” Blues Tour has grown to a record breaking, 100+ back to back shows spanning 9 provinces and 2 territories. Riding high on the roots revival, the veteran bluesmen will launch the tour at Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., Toronto, on Wednesday, September 9th.

The most comprehensive Canadian blues-roots tour ever mounted, the Century is setting new benchmarks for independent artists. “I think it’s the biggest tour anybody has done in this country,” says Doc MacLean, who claims to run the whole enterprise out of a virtual office consisting of “a laptop, a cell phone and a guitar case.”

Operating without arts funding, the Tour is absorbing the costs of bringing the blues to remote rural locations and the far north. “It’s something Big Dave and I feel very strongly about,” explains Doc, “a national tour should be national— not just a string of big cities on a highway.” Building on the “blues coming to your town!” theme, MacLean and McLean have partnered with music retailer and educator Long and McQuade to offer complimentary, blues guitar workshops and masterclasses at locations across Canada.

Big Dave McLean www.myspace.com/bigdavemclean or http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/Web/artist.asp?id=392

Big Dave McLean is finally getting his recognition, at an age when the rest of us are getting around to contemplating retirement. Only in the last decade or so has there been significant inroads into recording this definitive Canadian bluesman.

A masterful guitarist and top notch harpist, McLean’s raw and gravelly vocals bespeak of a life lived to the fullest, and a career spent performing in and around those countless small towns that dot the Canadian prairies. When it comes to the blues, however, McLean’s heart firmly beats to the ghosts of the delta greats--especially the incomparable Muddy Waters, with whom he toured over two decades ago. Just how important the Mojo Man was to the development of Big Dave can be gleaned in an 11-minute tribute, aptly titled ‘Muddy Waters for President’. Actually written for the dean of Chicago bluesmen, Muddy died before getting around to recording it.

McLean’s stage performances also identify him as one of the top bluesmen in Canada and what he knows about the business came to him from blues legends John Hammond Jr. and Muddy Waters. He started out on harmonica in the early '60s and had his first guitar lesson from John Hammond at the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1969. Hammond and Muddy Waters became Dave's lifelong musical heroes and friends. What did he learn from the masters? "Well you gotta be courteous," says McLean. "You know, Muddy Waters told me you can have the best guys in the world in your band, and if they gotta go, if they want to branch out and do their own thing, you’re not gonna stop them from doing what they’re destined to do. You might as well aid them along, help them out. And John (Hammond) was much the same, one of the most courteous gentlemen on this planet, you know, totally helpful, inspiring. You know both of them were just wonderful, wonderful men. I’m so pleased that I had the opportunity to even meet them."

Years later, Colin James - certainly one of the best-known Canadian blues artists there is - put himself into the picture.

'Dave McLean has been stalwartly keeping up the blues tradition for years,' says James. 'I first heard him when I was nine, and he blew me away then, and he still does today. He's one of the great undiscovered bluesmen, and people ought to hear him.' As good as his word, James took McLean into his home studio in North Vancouver, called up a bunch of players who have worked with both artists, and cut a record together in three days.

Said Colin: 'Dave has spent his whole life dedicated to the music, and what you hear is pretty well what happened. Everyone who got involved had a ball, and everybody can hear what a good time we all had. Dave is a singer and player that just makes everyone want to do their best.'

Whisky Award, 2005
- Runner-up for Singer Of The Year

Western Canadian Music Award, 2004
- Outstanding Blues Recording - "Blues From The Middle"

Prairie Music Award, 1999
- Outstanding Blues Recording - "For The Blues...Always"

Great Canadian Blues Award, 1998

Juno Award, 1991
- Best Blues/Gospel - "Saturday Night Blues, Vol. 1"

Maple Blues Award nominations:
- Accustic Act Of The Year, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2003
- Blues With A Feeling Award*, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2006

Doc MacLean http://www.docmaclean.com

Doc MacLean released the critically acclaimed CD, Narrow House, in September 2006. Produced by Colin Linden, the recording features bassist Larry Taylor and drummer percussionist Stephen Hodges, former section of the Tom Waits band. Driven by MacLean's distinctive vocals and bare fingers National guitar, Narrow House plots an emotional remapping of contemporary, Delta rooted music. (see Reviews for more info).

Post- release, MacLean has toured constantly, performing 200 plus dates each year. His legendary road trips in Canada are documented on a series of blogs—
http://centurybluestour.blogspot.com (2009)
http://nationalsteelblues.blogspot.com (2008) http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com (2007) http://www.transcanadabluestour.blogspot.com (2006)

MacLean's schedule has recently included openers for Guy Davis, Big Bill Morganfield, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, BB King, Duke Robillard, Lucky Peterson, Magic Slim, Tony Furtado, Downchild, Slick Ballinger, Colin Linden, Los Lobos, Johnny Winter and others. In Canada his relentless touring has reached nearly every area, and has seen him paired up with both Big Dave McLean and with Michael Pickett for theatre, concert, and festival appearances. (to hear a live track, play "Jimmie Lee Jackson's Blues" and "Feel Like Goin' Home.")

Son of a civil rights lawyer and a fiddle player, MacLean was by his early teens playing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and festivals, and was appearing on radio and television variety shows. In 1972 he formed a duo with another young musician, Colin Linden, and became a frequent and popular opener for Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, and John Hammond.

In his travels Doc met and became friends with many older musicians including Son House, Tampa Red, 'Sippi Wallace, Yank Rachel, Robert Pete Williams, Rev Robert Wilkins and Bukka White. His work as an accompanist included tours and performances with Peg Leg Sam the Medicine Show Man, Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Rev Pearly Brown, the Carter Family and Sam Chatmon.

MacLean, who now resides in Toronto, has appeared at many of the larger North American folk and blues festivals. Radio and television appearances have included national programming such as CNN Today, PBS Morning Pro Musica, CBC 90 Minutes Live, Touch the Earth, Morningside, Canada Live, and Saturday Night Blues. Now appearing most often as a solo performer, he is equally comfortable at a folk festival workshop, priming a rowdy blues festival crowd, or telling a story in a hushed theatre. In his father's footsteps, Doc's concerns for social justice have lead him to perform in the prisons, soup kitchens, picket lines, and hospices of the many communities he passes through.

Doc MacLean remains a bit of a blues hobo, performing on the street when the opportunity presents itself. A constant traveler, he will come to your town if he is invited.

Papa King