A singer and songwriter for over 50 years, Doug MacLeod isn’t your average blues artist—he’s a storyteller who brings experience, humor, and life lessons to the stage.
Previously headlining the Savannah Folk Music Society Festival in 2012, award-winning blues musician Doug MacLeod is returning to the Greater Savannah area on Saturday August 28th at Randy’s Pickin’ Parlor in Bloomingdale.
A musician whose music is in conversation with the blues tradition, MacLeod credits the blues for teaching him about life and how to live it. “Blues is about the journey, it’s about speaking honestly from your heart,” said MacLeod. “It’s a music of hope. No matter what cards you have been dealt - either the cards you started out with in this life, or the cards you’re holding now - if it’s not a good hand, you can overcome it.”
MacLeod’s music isn’t just about heartbreak or the typical subject matter of the blues. Some of his songs are about sorrow, others about joy. But nearly all are based on the blues man’s life, with vibrant storytelling woven through each track. “There’s humor in my songs, but also messages on how to make it through this life. That’s what I learned from the old guys,” MacLeod said. Crediting his first mentor for helping him find his true writing style, MacLeod only writes what he knows. “I’ll always remember what my first mentor once told me - never play a note you don’t believe, and never write or sing about what you don’t know about,” he said. “And that’s what I’ve done ever since.”
By sharing relatable life experiences, MacLeod strives to bring out authentic emotions from his audiences. “Hopefully I will make you laugh, cry, think. Most importantly, I hope I make you feel, because that’s what this music is about.” As a traveling artist, MacLeod has played thousands of gigs for a wide range of audiences. By switching up every performance, he brings a different setlist to each gig he plays. “My shows are always different,” he said. “I never plan a set and I have no idea what songs I will be playing. Every audience is different and my job is to read the room, engage with the audience, and play songs the audience wants to hear.”
As a multiple Blues Music Award winner, MacLeod has won many awards including the 2020 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year and the 2018 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album Of The Year ‘Break The Chain’. He is nominated for the 2021 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. In addition, his songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy and have been featured in many TV movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. He is set to release a new album in March of 2022.
Ready to bring his guitar wizardry, soulful vocals, and quick wit to Randy’s Pickin' Parlor, MacLeod’s performance will start at 8:00 PM and tickets are $28. Call 912-748-1930 to order tickets by phone or click HERE for more information.
