Welcome to the National Steel Blues Tour. This Blog will get busier as we move along, and will soon be packed with pictures, dates, sponsors, clips... All kinds of cool stuff. But every tour really starts with the Press Release. You'll find it below! Meanwhile, if you are interested in what a giant blues tour is like, I invite you to visit last year's Big Road Blues Tour blog, http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com. Thanks for dropping by!

January 7, 2008

For Immediate Release:

National Steel Blues Tour Announced

Doc MacLean & Michael Pickett to perform 75 Canadian dates

Doc MacLean and Michael Pickett are pleased to announce the National Steel Blues Tour. Hard as nails, tough as steel, but with a warm silver glow stretching from coast to coast. Join two of Canada’s most uncompromising, most travelled and most storied acoustic blues artists as they bring the real deal to your town. Feel the heat from two vintage National Steel guitars, up close and personal. Experience the hard edge and share the inspirations of these veteran artists, together for this unique tour. The Ammo's in the Icebox, and there's a raw steak on a plate, cut like a valentine. So be ready.

The National Steel Blues Tour, September 3 - November 14, 2008. Building upon Doc's highly successful 2006 TransCanada and 2007 Big Road Blues Tours, the National Steel Blues Tour will include up to 75 shows across Canada. A small number of American dates are also under consideration. Tour schedule, corporate sponsors, and routing TBA.

"This tour is going to feature some very, very deep blues. I'm totally thrilled imagining what Michael and I will do over so many shows. The National Steel Blues Tour is going to be an amazing journey." — Doc MacLean

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Michael Pickett's past achievements as a bandleader, singer and harmonica player are legendary. With his bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band he received numerous awards and nominations and inspired a new generation of harmonica players. Forged in the rough little clubs of Toronto's Spadina Ave., Pickett's bands leaped beyond these humble beginnings to perform on national television and at important concerts such as John Lennon's famous "Live Peace" at Varsity Stadium. Emerging more recently as a solo, acoustic blues performer, Michael Pickett has achieved international acclaim with his intense, riveting performances and compositions. Armed with a road worn National and rack mounted harps, he frequently tours the United States, Canada, the UK and Europe — often in larger halls with artists like Buddy Guy, Lee Oskar, James Cotton, and Hubert Sumlin. "Pickett continues to amaze everyone," — Blues Revue, "He's got it!"— Sing Out! "A truly gifted artist," — Real Blues. Goes for the throat, standing ovations everywhere.

Doc MacLean is a bit of a vagabond Delta songster, as likely to be playing the streets of Memphis or Toronto as opening a show for BB King. In 1972 he formed a duo with Colin Linden and became a popular opener for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Muddy Waters. Mentored by Son House, Doc toured with Peg Leg Sam the Medicine Show Man, Blind John Davis, Sam Chatmon, and many others. Bare fingers, dead strings and broken glass on an old National. His emotional remapping of Delta rooted music has won him a fan club that includes a who's who of the blues world. "Like an audio version of the movie Sin City," — Blues Revue, May 2007. Sell out shows across Canada.

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Tour Info: The National Steel Blues Tour featuring Michael Pickett and Doc MacLean is now booking and accepting expressions of interest for all Canadian market areas. For further information please contact:

Doc MacLean doc@docmaclean.com
Louise Pickett, Mother Earth Management, mail@michaelpickett.com

Visit:
http://nationalsteelbluestour.blogspot.com
http://www.michaelpickett.com
http://www.sonicbids.com/docmaclean
http://www.sonicbids.com/michaelpickett
http://www.docmaclean.com
http://www.myspace.com/michaelpickettsolo
http://www.youtube.com/michaelpickettsolo
http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com