When Martin stepped up on the stage to make his announcement that Acoustic Sussex was one year old this week, he uttered one inalienable truth - that he was sure that Dougie Maclean's concert was going to be one of the best shows they had put on yet. Well, the Butterstone Balladeer came and like the Pied Piper, took hold of the crowd and played them…  I can well imagine what a headline of an imaginary newspaper would say "Dougie Maclean blisses out Chequer Mead".  Well he surely did! 

I will openly admit my ignorance, but I have been fortunate to be experiencing a bit of a personal folk revival, nay a renaissance just lately. I have a passion for all kinds of music from world music - through rock 'n' roll - to classical. I was last deeply into folk music back in the early 80s when I visited the likes of Crawley Folk Club and the Dorking Folk Club held at the hospital social club. Anyway I digress. I had heard of Dougie from a friend of mine but had never heard his music, so I came fresh to this concert and didn't know what to expect. But everyone who did know him assured me I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't!  People had come from all over the place, the couple sitting next to me had travelled all the way from Colchester and were going straight back after the concert. I did hear that there were others who had travelled long distances. What dedication to a truly amazing artist!  

If I only had two words to describe Dougie, I would say "laid back" but in saying that, he was so technically proficient. I watched, mesmerised his fingers moving so fluidly over the fretboard and I didn't spot one bum note all evening. Not only that, he made it look so easy. 

I suppose every performer is proud of his heritage - Dougie made that perfectly clear. He was given the opportunity to demonstrate to us the quality and the difference in the style of music from a different region of the country. Throughout the concert, at times it felt like a "Come All ye" with the audience providing the vocals. I am sure that many of you will discover that the new album by Dougie is a gem. That is, if you hadn't already found out. The music on the album is truly magical with deep meaningful songs and wonderful poetry. This is just what I look for in music at the moment, it really hits the spot, evoking the human condition. And with lots of interesting riffs and chord changes, like I usually say, lots of interesting little corners to explore. He describes what rural life is and has been like in Scotland. It makes it that much easier to discover the beauty of a live concert such as this when you know what the composer had meant the song to reveal. The banter between songs at Chequer Mead was humorous and the audience were good naturedly kept on their toes. As they say "A good time was had by all". 

May I take the opportunity to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Bob Preece