American legend to headline blues festival

Blues legend Doug MacLeod will headline the Rotorua Blues Festival this year.

The singer, from Los Angeles, is the patron of the Bay of Plenty Blues Club. He will perform exclusively in Rotorua during this trip, giving the city a fantastic chance to target local, domestic and Australian visitors.

Doug writes and sings original songs based on his life and experiences. He is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. He also has a knack for storytelling, bringing characters from the faceless to the legendary to life.

Born in New York in 1946, Doug became acquainted with the blues in St Louis in his teens and started his career playing country blues on acoustic guitar. Although predominantly associated with acoustic guitar, he developed skills and honed them during subsequent journeys into jazz and electric blues.

Over 26 years, 13 studio albums, several live records and two DVDs, Doug has consistently earned raves. His songs have been covered by many artists, including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. He has co-written songs with Dave Alvin and Coco Montoya and his songs have been featured in many television movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. 

He has appeared in blues and jazz festivals and his own shows around the world, but particularly in the US and Europe.  

This year’s festival will also feature musicians from across New Zealand and NZ Blues Clubs from Auckland to Invercargill will have an opportunity to be involved.   

The Rotorua Blues Festival is the official event of the Bay of Plenty Blues Club.  Run annually since 2006, it is timed to coincide with the Targa Rally in Rotorua and held during the low season to target visitors to Rotorua from New Zealand and overseas. 

Last year’s festival featured the inaugural Youth Guitar workshop and competition and the success of this event has assured its place in future festivals.  Participants aged between 12 and 20 have the opportunity to attend a master class run by respected and well known musicians, and those who are chosen to go through to the competition will take away some great prizes and earn recognition for this achievement. 

Doug MacLeod will be the special guest tutor and judge at the Youth Guitar workshop and competition and – another first for the festival - will present a songwriting workshop that will be open to everyone.

For more information contact: 

Sally Garner
Tel: +64 7 351 8134
Email:  sally.garner@rdc.govt.nz
 

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