Doc Maclean is a blues vagabond, a weathered, wily, but infinitely likeable storyteller/performer. Writing from the dark side of the blues highway. Doc explored and resided in the American rural south at a time when it was much less visited than it is today, and had mentors like Son House, Peg Leg Sam, and Sam Chatmon. Gifted by the grandchildren of slaves, MacLean now sings his own stories and tells his own songs in his own voice. His mostly resophonic, finger style slide guitar pays sonic homage to Patton, House, and Big Joe Williams, in a roots based, yet contemporary context.
He’s back in South Africa for Spook’n Diesel, his 3rd nationwide tour, playing across the county. The tour comes off the back of 60 very successful North American shows with Albert Frost late last year. Their CanAfrica Blues Tourwas sold out in most regions and had strong reviews everywhere.
Doc comments on Spook’n Diesel, "It's a challenging time for South Africa, and I'm glad to be back here on the ground. Hopefully, I can spin out some positive blues mojo! This is my home away from home, so I care deeply about it. I have friends in every corner. Spook'n Diesel is a tattered little, non-commercial tour with big shows, small shows, and even little pop up shows with guest artists- it harkens back to the old school, rough road touring. I carry it all in, set it all up, do my show, self-drive to the next venue and do it again. Along the way I collect stories. First world blues is way behind me in the rear-view mirror."
He goes on to explain more about the inspiration behind the name of the tour,“Spook'n Diesel. The chaos of life lived large on the Blues Highway. A drink I discovered in KwaZulu-Natal. A dark secret whispered in my ear behind a Township juke joint. A small bag pressed into my hand. If you want to lose the Blues, change it into a genre. If you want to find the Blues, it's not that easy. Let me pour you another story. Let's slip behind the wheels of night. It's always about the journey. No place too large, too small, too grand or too humble.”
Tour Dates Friday 1 Feb, Theatre Casa Pascal, Durbanville Saturday 2 Feb, Theatre Evita se Peron, Darling Friday 8 Feb, Fred & Max, Somerset West Saturday 9 Feb, Karoo Saloon, Barrydale Sunday 10 Feb, Up the Creek Festival, Swellendam, Wednesday 13 Feb, The Cove, The Strand, w. Tim Parr Friday 15 Feb, La Dolce Vita, Oudtshoorn Saturday 16 Feb, Show Room Theatre, Prince Albert Thursday 21 Feb, Australian Arms, Kimberley, Saturday 23 Feb, Cafe Barcelona, Pretoria, Thursday Wednesday 27 Feb, Sinkshack, Bronkhorstspruit Thursday 28 Feb, Jarr Bar, Pretoria Thursday 14 March, Calversham Mill, Lidgetton, KZN Friday 15 March, Rocky Ridge, Ramsgate, Wednesday 20 March, House in Zululand, Eshowe Friday 22 March – Sunday 24 March, Mojo Rising Blues Cruise (out of Durban) Tuesday 26 March, Legends, East London Thursday 28 March, Surf Cafe, Plettenburg Bay Friday 29 March, Plankies & Hangklip, Pringle Bay Saturday 30 March, Camel Rock, Scarborough, Cape Town Monday 1 April, Barleycorn Folk Club, Cape Town Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April, Alma Cafe, Cape Town
