Dougie MacLean has built an international reputation as songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer on his own terms. This talent has taken his performance to concerts and festivals all over the world and to the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York, London's Festival Theatre and the Sydney Opera House. Other appearances of note include sharing the stage with Lou Reed and Eddi Reader in the grounds of Culzean Castle at the Burns an' a' That! Festival, featuring on the BBC Hogmanay programme from Edinburgh Castle with James Taylor and sharing the bill with the legendary Mavis Staples at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.

His songs have been covered by hosts of artists including Scottish stars Paolo Nutini and Amy MacDonald, Irish greats Ronan Keating, Mary and Frances Black, Dolores Keane, Deanta and Cara Dillon, and GRAMMY Award-winning American country singer Kathy Mattea. His anthem ‘Caledonia' has topped the Scottish charts and is one of Scotland's most popular contemporary songs. His music has been used in Hollywood films (including Last of the Mohicans), on television (BBC's A Mug's Game) and he has been the subject of three BBC TV specials: The Land: Songs of Dougie MacLean, Songroads and Clann na Mara (Children of the Sea).

MacLean was appointed OBE in the 2011 New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to music and charity. He has also recently received two prestigious Tartan Clef Awards, has been inducted into the Scottish Music Hall of Fame and given a Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Songwriting by the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.