Dougie MacLean's encore cut as fireworks set off fire alarms

Nov 10 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A HEALTHY measure of Amber nectar brought this year’s Dougie MacLean Festival and his Sunday evening Caledonia Concert to a satisfying conclusion – until the evening turned red!

The Perthshire-based international star was poised to launch into his encore in Perth Concert Hall when two red appliances from Tayside Fire and Rescue raced to the venue after the fire alarms had been activated by the spectacular cascade of on-stage fireworks.

A bemused Dougie quickly bade his appreciative audience farewell as the building was evacuated in good humour and bonhomie.

Audiences around the world were logged on to the drama via the www.live.perthshireamber.com with live video streaming of the pyrotechnic ending to Dougie and Co’s fabulous rendition of his anthemic Caledonia.

A review of The Caledonia Concert, which brought together wonderful musicians from five countries around the globe, will appear in Friday’s PA.

The concert was the special finale to the fifth, and most successful so far, Perthshire Amber Festival, which brought more than 200 musicians and thousands of audience members from around the world to 17 venues in Perthshire for 110 days of concerts, workshops, music sessions and guided walks.

Perthshire Amber 2009 was one of the Homecoming Scotland events, and The Caledonia Concert was the flag-bearer for Perthshire Amber’s role in the Homecoming Scotland programme.