Press Release -

It was a special moment for young Tasmanian Celtic outfit Daideo and the Blue Mosquitoes to sit on the porch of The Secret, Cygnet and jam with legendary Scottish folk singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean. It was mid-day and late enough for Dougie and other festival goers to start emerging from a few precious hours sleep following the festival’s famous late night sessions. Dougie and his  wife Jenny listened to  Daideo and the Blue Mosquitoes play two of his most loved songs This Love Will Carry and Ready for the Storm.

Dougie MacLean has been rated amongst Scotland’s finest artists of all time and sits in the Scottish Hall of Fame alongside legends Rod Stewart and Donovan. To say the kids were thrilled would be an understatement. Not only did they get to perform with Dougie on stage they also had the opportunity to hang out with him to find out about the life of a professional folk singer. He imparted a depth of wisdom common to the lyrics of his songs.

Dougie MacLean was not only a coup for the Cygnet Folk Festival but was seen by all who had the chance to meet him as someone willing to provide a leg up to others starting out.

Playing with the inspirational Dougie MacLean has definitely been a highlight of the Blue Mosquitoes’ musical career to date and has made them even more motivated to take Dougie’s advice and introduce more of their own original material.

Cygnet Folk Festival Director, Roger Joseph, said, “My highlight of the Cygnet Folk festival was when Dougie MacLean invited Daideo and the Blue Mosquitoes to join him on stage. I had tears in my eyes when Hannah took the cue from Dougie and sang lead vocal on This Love will Carry. The massive ovation was testament to the talent of this young group and the generosity of Dougie MacLean."

 Daideo and the Blue Mosquitoes play high energy Celtic music, combining traditional and contemporary Irish and Scottish music. Band members Hannah Foley, Chris Boon, Moire and Stuart Foley are entertaining and exciting young musicians. Hannah, Chris and Moire are sixteen years of age and Stuart is twelve - the band has time to develop a unique repertoire and a great future.