Counting Down, 100 Shows Announced

Time flies when you are as busy as I've been. The little, virtual office seems to be popping all the time. Since I last posted we've got the Tour posters back from the printer, and mailed them all over Canada. I think most, if not all the venues and presenters should have them by now. The live CD, "Big Road Blues" has been mastered and packaged— you'll be able to get a copy of this CBC produced recording at any of our shows. Silverbirch Productions in Toronto was a really big help in gracefully (and quickly) finding and resolving our various problems.

We've also nailed down a bunch of details with Long & McQuade. We'll be presenting complimentary guitar workshops in many locations across Canada. Check the updated Tour Schedule, or the Long & McQuade website to see where and when. These are mostly smaller towns and cities, as we felt these would be more fun.

The schedule has had some adds and some drops. More adds than drops, I'm glad to say, and we've still got calls coming in and dates pending. Better late than never, eh? We've crossed the 100 show margin some time ago, and yesterday the first press releases went out announcing all the dates. Richard Flohil is promoting the gala, tour launch at Hugh's Room, Toronto. It's a bit strange for me to actually have a publicist working on a show date. But, gosh, Richard Flohil is one of the very best. I could get used to this.

Here's the front end of yesterday's press release—

For Immediate Release: August 25, 2009

Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean Announce 100 Shows

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 are to launch their epic tour at Hugh’s Room, 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, Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean have partnered with music retailer and educator Long and McQuade to offer complimentary, blues guitar workshops and masterclasses at locations across Canada.

To commemorate the Tour, Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean are releasing a special, live CD, “Big Road Blues.” The limited pressing, recorded and produced by Catherine McLelland for CBC’s “Canada Live,” will only be available at Century Blues Tour shows.

Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean thrilled sold out halls from Halifax to Vancouver Island on their original Big Road Blues Tour. Back by popular demand, don’t miss this opportunity to hear them interact again, up close and personal in this epic, all acoustic songs and stories presentation. Loaded with new songs and old favourites, the Century Tour promises to be a classic, "must see" event.

The Century Tour launches at Hugh’s Room, Toronto, on Wednesday, September 9th.

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I'll update the sidebar in a day or so! Hope everybody is having a great summer. Dave and I are counting down to launch. I'm playing some shows around Prince Edward County, ON, this week. Once the tour launches I'll be reporting on our adventures daily with pics as we go.