Tara MacLean has had quite the career. The Juno-nominated singer-songwriter, who recently published her candid and poetic memoir Song of the Sparrow, is currently in the UK for a run of shows following an extended stay in Ireland.

This summer, MacLean achieved a long-held dream by performing at Glastonbury, an experience she described as “amazing” and one of the pinnacles of her career. Soon after, she graced the main stage at the British Country Music Festival, where she leaned into her country influences while still acknowledging the eclecticism that has defined her artistry. “I’ve never been able to fully focus on one sound,” she admits. “I’ve dabbled in folk, Americana, and country—I just love exploring it all.” Still, she says she’s relished discovering the British country scene and “will definitely recommend coming over to many of [her] friends.”

Now 51, MacLean finds herself entering a new chapter. With her youngest child recently leaving for university, she suddenly has an empty nest — but also fresh space for creativity and ambition. She has been writing and recording her new album in the UK, inspired not only by her surroundings but also by love: she met her partner Ben, a PR professional, at a London show two and a half years ago. “I feel like I’m finally making the songs I’ve always wanted to make,” she reflects.



MacLean has never been afraid to dream big. One of her aspirations is to stage a full symphonic concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which no longer feels like a far-off fantasy given her rising profile on this side of the Atlantic. And her wish list doesn’t end there. While she has long admired Peter Gabriel and says she would happily "just support him on tour," her ultimate dream collaboration would be with acclaimed producer Daniel Lanois, whose atmospheric touch she feels could add a whole new dimension to her sound.

At the British Country Music Festival, MacLean treated fans to a mix of new material alongside beloved favourites like the lush River and the heartfelt Horizon. Judging by the long queue of people waiting for photos and autographs after her set, her connection with audiences here is only deepening. With Glastonbury under her belt, a new record on the horizon, and dreams as expansive as ever, Tara MacLean is proving that reinvention and ambition don’t fade—they only grow stronger with time.

Tara MacLean plays:
September 19 - Goldfinch Books, Alton
September 26 - Monkton Arts, Ryde
October 2 - The Dukes, Lancaster
October 3 - Cafe #9, Sheffield
October 4 - Band on the Wall, Manchester
October 8 - Green Note, London