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Ross Maclean

@rossmaclean.bsky.social
602 followers 368 following 565 posts

Freelance film critic and broadcaster, so likes films a fair bit. Appears on BBC Radio Scotland. Member of London Critics’ Circle.

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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
First time seeing Bill live and my jaw dropped in delight when Jim White walked out. Got a chance to say a brief hello and say that I was looking forward to seeing Dirty Three next month.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Over the years I’ve seen friends recommending Bill Callahan live and really got into his recorded stuff, so the chance to see him in Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ couldn’t be passed up. Everyone who recommended him live was absolutely right.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Todd Rundgren is an artist I like but I’m not familiar with his entire canon so, being Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™, I took a shot and went for it. It was a bizarre and thrilling experience to be amongst a throng of his most loyal fanbase and the man has immense stage presence.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ barely rests and seeing Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends tear through Lifes Rich Pageant and a further 90 minutes of R.E.M. deep cuts was unmissable.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Then rounded the day off with Stereolab at the Usher Hall. A band I’ve always peripherally liked but never seen live. But they were outstanding and I’ll definitely see them again.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Ty Segall is an artist I’ve only recently become familiar with, knowing I’d be seeing him here, but his excoriating Usher Hall set did exactly what a good festival set should do and made me desperate to see him again.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Then the big one. Khn and Klek finally land in Scotland and Angine de Poitrine blow the roof off The Usher Hall in what may be the most extraordinary set I’ve seen all year. For all the mystique and Dadaist flourishes, the tunes and musical prowess absolutely deliver.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Then to The Usher Hall for Gwenno, an artist I’ve admired for years but never seen live. Glad I finally have now because that was something special. More artists need to encourage their audience to chant a veiled political statement about cheese.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Kicking things off with Automatic at The Queen’s Hall. A dreamy start to the day that got straight to the point with no messing.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Capping off the summer of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ with a last hurrah at the Edinburgh Psych Fest all-dayer.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Haha. Predictable as ever!
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ don’t stop and going to see Anna von Hausswolff is one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. Absolutely extraordinary stuff. Can’t stop thinking about it.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
And rounding off the busiest, most international, most impressive week of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ — and of the year in general — was Getdown Services in their most sweltering Edinburgh gig to date. Negged into euphoria.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I was absolutely not missing the chance to see Jack White again this summer, so Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ hit the road to catch him in Newcastle. The man never lets you down. Mesmeric and astounding. Phone-free show so photos not mine. 📸: David James Swanson
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I never figured I would go and see Bon Jovi but the option was there in Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and I took a chance. Was worried about the vocals in the run-up, but I’ll be damned if they don’t put on a hell of a show. The vocal adjustments work. Great time!
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
A stratospheric highlight of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and a performance that couldn’t be improved an iota. Amyl and the Sniffers delivered the goods in Dublin as I’m sure they do everywhere. What a force.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
For whatever reason, despite liking them for years, I somehow never thought I would go to see The Cure. And now gutted I missed out on years of gigs like this. An extraordinary addition to Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™. Perfect. Right up there as one of my favourite gigs.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
This was a bit good.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
This was the big one. The part of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ I’ve been looking forward to all year: a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds quasi-homecoming in Brighton. The event and everything surrounding it was emotionally overwhelming. What a night.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Always a treat to see The Flaming Lips but Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ was treated to them in the blazing sunshine and in a support slot perfectly suited to big sounds in a big space before Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in Brighton.
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Reposted by Ross Maclean
Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ bonus event and one of the most amazing things my eyes have ever beheld. A few hours ahead of the huge gig I had travelled for, an unannounced rooftop Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds gig in a narrow Brighton lane. An event that will live with me forever.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ bonus event and one of the most amazing things my eyes have ever beheld. A few hours ahead of the huge gig I had travelled for, an unannounced rooftop Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds gig in a narrow Brighton lane. An event that will live with me forever.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Definitely! Though I’m excited about the idea of watching silly toy videos in surrounds of Victorian grandeur!
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Either is a faff for me but I’m going to London!
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Game of Thrones: The Mad King was one of the most astounding things I’ve ever seen on a stage. Genuinely awestruck at points. The material lends itself well to the Shakespearean gravitas it’s afforded by @the-rsc.bsky.social and the performance space and puppetry is something else.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
No question. I’ll be keeping one eye open for them.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Outstanding. Just all constituent elements in perfect harmony. Trying to talk myself out of trying for tomorrow.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ is not above FOMO and so despite having seen him in Glasgow four months back, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see another awe-inspiring David Byrne gig — in Edinburgh this time. Don’t regret my decision for a second. Beautiful.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
A definite Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ support highlight was seeing the most apt opening band for Shirley Manson’s hometown gig with her old hometown bandmates, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, whose blistering short set gave a sense of closing the loop.
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
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Ross Maclean @rossmaclean.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
A drizzly, haar-shrouded evening of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and a homecoming for Shirley Manson with Garbage at Edinburgh Castle. Clear emotion on the stage and atmosphere by the bucketload.
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