14th February 2009

Following the success of the Colo Concert in January 2009, which was the perfect end to Dougie's first tour in Australia in many years, we have decided to join forces again with Jane McLaren at Ararat Lodge for a weekend of concerts in 2010!For details of musical line-up read below.

There will be a concert on Friday evening (19th March), Saturday evening (20th March) and Sunday afternoon (21st March). Each concert will feature Dougie MacLean as well as specially invited musical friends, with a different programme of songs each night. Tickets will be limited so book as soon as you have organised your transportation or accommodation. There is no camping available at Ararat Lodge but we have added a list of hotels, B & B, self catering and camping sites in the area.

The whole Colo River area in NSW is one of the most peaceful and beautiful parts of the country and a great place to escape to for a night or a weekend!

Ararat Lodge will make a lovely setting for the concerts. It has  a really welcoming feeling, nestled as it is in the natural beauty of the Colo River Valley, in this untainted part of the Hawkesbury district. For those who fancy it there will be a delicious two-course meal available in the dining area of the lodge before each concert begins in the sheltered garden area outside. Should the weather turn nasty there is ample room in the large lounge area for the concerts to go ahead! 

Now for the practicalities!
DATES: Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st March 2010
VENUE: Ararat Lodge. 1055 Upper Colo Road. Upper Colo. NSW 2756
TICKET PRICE:
$70.00 per person per concert. Dinner and concert.
$40.00 per person per concert. Concert only.
BOOK IN ADVANCE: By phoning Jane on  02 4565 9280 (she's a busy lady so leave a message on answerphone and she will call you back!)

For a few photos of the first Colo Concert have a look at photos of Dougie's Oz tour 2008/9

Some accommodation suggestions:
Colo
Ossian Hall Bed and Breakfast - 024575520
www.ossianhall.com.au

Kurrajong Trails and Cottages - 0245761417
www.kurratrails.com

Upper Colo Reserve (camping) contact Hawkesbury City Council on 0245604444 - bookings essential as camping ground has a max number of 150 persons on any night.

Wilberforce
The Heritage Hotel Motel - 0245751603

Windsor
Windsor Motel - 0245772020
Windsor Terrace Motel - 0245775999
www.windsorterracemotel.com

The Weekend's Line-up!

Each concert will be unique, involving different songs and arrangements. Other musicians joining Dougie for the weekend include:
Ross Ainslie - A multi-instrumentalist who is one of the top names in the Highland bagpipes, lowland belows pipes and whistles. He is a member of Salsa Celtica, The Trecherous Orchestra and The Dougie MacLean Band. We are thrilled that Ross is able to join us for these special concerts.A duo concert of Dougie MacLean with Ross Ainlie at Blair Castle was one of the hi-lights of Dougie's Perthshire Amber Festival 2009.

Sunas - A very talented Brisbane-based four-piece that plays fiery acoustic Celtic (Irish, Scottish, British, European, Breton etc) music on a variety of different instruments. They perform original and traditional celtic songs and tunes and were featured (and really enjoyed!) at Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival 2009 in Scotland. Instruments used by the group include Flutes, fiddle, guitar, whistles and bodhran.
"Their beguiling mix of original and traditional Celtic folk leaves most who hear it wanting to take some home..." Rave Magazine 2008

Frozen - A contemporary accoustic band peforming original music and songs. Good friends of Jane McLaren, they opened for Dougie back in 2008 when he played at Ararat Lodge for the first time during his Australian Tour. For these concerts Frozen are Kevin Adams (Acoustic Guitar and Vocals), Barbara Webb (Violin, Mandolin and Vocals) and  Blake Morrison (Guitar/Bass and Vocals). Kevin and Barb (photo below) perform often as a duo but it will be wonderful to have Blake join them for this concert.