Tour Mainly Sold!!

The last week has been a busy one with most of the blank dates now filled. We're really pleased to be visiting as many new (for us) places as we are- and of course we are thrilled to be visiting again with so many old friends as well. Now we will be busy getting those tour posters to print, tour jackets stitched, tour car in order, assembling tour books, inventory, spread sheets, and counting down to go mobile!

There are still a handful of dates non-confirmed, but for the most part the Tour is now sold out. Check out the Tour Schedule on the sidebar to the right, below!

In late November the duo portion of the Tour will end. Morgan Davis will continue through Manitoba and Saskatchewan on a Home Routes schedule. Doc MacLean has elected to extend his Blues Emergency duties for another three weeks, also in western Canada. Now booking! With any luck another 20 dates can still be added...

Fifty Dates Sold- Now Just a Few Left!

It has been a slow year for booking in Canada. The price of fuel is high and, like Rory Block, I know quite a few artists who will not be traveling this year, quite a few venues that are closing their doors or cutting back on shows, and quite a few people who don't go out as often as they once did. Morgan and I have both made our livings as traveling musicians for the past forty years, and we really appreciate your support- for us and for other artists as well. Not only are we committed to bringing the blues to Your Town- but this is the only life we know.

Now that the current Tour has sold some fifty dates coast to coast, I'd like to thank all of those who have agreed to be part of it- booking the blues, presenting the blues, feeding the blues, accommodating the blues over nine provinces and about 25 thousand km. There are only a few dates left to fill, and we're gonna get 'em nailed in, too! We're counting down! If you're already on board- great! If you're not, it's not too late!

Finally, I'm impressed and amazed that over seven years of booking this Tour coast to coast- some 650 National Steel shows in Canada's best and worse venues- never has a show been sold to Salmon Arm, BC, Medicine Hat, AB, or Sarnia, ON. These three towns form a dark trio of blank spots on the Tour maps and schedules. And I'm stubborn enough to keep asking and looking- that's what keeps the wheels turning.

Tour Car Needed

The lady crossed the centre line on Landsdowne Ave., in west Toronto. Coming down the wrong side of the narrow road, she took out the side of the Lincoln, breaking the back axle and wheels, pushing the car sideways into a utility pole. Her car stopped further down the road in a pool of fluids and gasoline. Later, after the ambulances had taken two people to hospital, after the police had cleared the scene and charged the other driver, my insurance company offered me $1500 to replace my tour car! This blues ride is no more.

A beautiful white Lincoln in tip top shape, gleaming at it skimmed along Canada's highways. Not to the Cooperators insurance company- in light of the 50 thousand bucks I've paid in premiums over the years I am shocked at how they treat their customers when it gets to be claims time. Seriously, folks- don't even consider a policy with Cooperators. I'm borrowing cash to buy another Lincoln while I go to court to try and get a reasonable settlement from them.

Meanwhile, I'm now looking for a 1997 Lincoln Town Car- Cartier or Signature trim, in black or white, leather interior, prefer vinyl roof. A nice one. No rust, no dents. I'd take a similar Lincoln, or possibly even a more recent year. The blues not only has to travel in style, but it needs a trunk that can hold a PA and a bunch of guitars. Not to worry. A replacement Lincoln will be found before this Tour goes mobile!

Slow Blues In Key of Canada

Just checking in with the Blog, as I have not had much to report for a while. Morgan's been in Europe for several weeks and will soon be back in the thick of it in Canada. For a Tour that had as much early interest as this one, the dates have been very slow to come in this year. I've been hearing similar reports from other touring shows, so I'm not sure what this means for culture and live music in Canada. Big distances. High overhead. Ticket prices largely constant or falling. I don't know if enough time has passed to predict where all this is going, but things are definitely getting tighter for the indy shows. It does seem as though the low end, pass-the-hat kind of venues are prospering. It also seems that the higher end shows can still tour. The middle is definitely getting crushed. Simply put, there may soon be fewer dates played by fewer professional touring artists. Of course, I don't plan to be one of those playing fewer dates. But the ground is changing rapidly, and Darwinian economics suggests adapt or perish. I'll adapt, but right now I've got a Tour to finish booking!

Tour Announced!!

For Immediate Release

March 20, 2012

Doc and MD Prescribe “Healin’ Music”

National Steel “Blues Emergency” Tour to Roll in September

Doc MacLean is pleased to announce that veteran bluesman Morgan Davis will join him on Canada’s 7^th annual, biggest little blues tour this fall. The National Steel “Blues Emergency” Tour will bring its blues medicine coast to coast, answering some 50 calls to nine provinces. The semi-acoustic, songs and stories in the round event promises to conduct operations in venues Large and Small, Grand and Humble. “We’ll make house calls,” says MacLean.

The Tour will begin in Atlantic Canada in September, finishing some ten weeks later in western Canada. Do you have a Blues Emergency in Your Town? Don’t wait– call now for an appointment before it’s too late! Feeling good already? Don’t forget this year’s most entertaining blues booster shot– Doc MacLean and Morgan Davis (MD), your 2012 Blues Prescription.

Fans will look forward to this one time pairing of two of Canada’s best known and most travelled blues storytellers and entertainers. Good dates are still available in most regions. Reserve Now. Only a limited number of dates will be offered for this National Steel “Blues Emergency” Tour.

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Bookings and Tour Information: Doc MacLean, doc@docmaclean.com

Additional Artist & Tour Information, Media : (A Comprehensive Link List may be located on the Blog Sidebar to Right of this entry)

http://www.Sonicbids.com/docmaclean

http://www.MorganDavis.com

Some Previous National Steel Tours:

http://badboybluestour.blogspot.com

http://darkerwaysbluestour.blogspot.com

http://centurybluestour.blogspot.com

http://nationalsteelblues.blogspot.com

http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com

Blues Emergency Tour Schedule (V23 March)

Atlantic Canada: September

Quebec/Ontario: Early October, limited dates to be offered

Manitoba Mid October, Mid November

Saskatchewan Mid October, Mid November

Alberta Late October, Mid November

British Columbia Late October, Early November

See sidebar for weekly/daily updates of the Tour Routing and Schedule.

“Drink rooster soup before going to bed, or you’ll wake up in the morning, find your own self dead.”