Discovering Rory McEwen: Art, Music, Family & Scotland

Dear Friends,

Have you ever felt connected to someone you never met?

The story I’m about to tell you is about home, family, art, and music. The story has lots of layers. And I discovered magic in every layer. 

The story begins in Spring 2023 morning. I was on a zoom with my friend Jerry Adelmann.

Jerry explained that he was part of a committee who had organized an exhibition at Chicago’s Driehaus Museum to feature a collection from London’s Kew Gardens of botanical paintings by Scottish artist, Rory McEwen. 

Jerry invited me to join the committee so I could help spread word about the exhibition to the Scottish community.

“Of course, Gus, you’re familiar with Rory McEwen,” said Jerry.

*Now, friends, candidly, I’d heard of Rory McEwen, but I really didn’t know about Rory McEwen.*

So, quite gingerly I replied “yes” as I googled “Who is Rory McEwen?”

When I saw Rory McEwen’s breathtakingly beautiful art, I was astonished. Not for nothing, he’s widely regarded as the twentieth century’s greatest botanical painter.

When I discovered Rory McEwen was from Duns, my hometown in the Scottish Borders (population 2,800), I was embarrassed I didn’t know more about him.

And my embarrassment intensified when, as an unabashed fan of blues music, I discovered that Rory was also a celebrated folk musician who introduced American blues, jazz, and folk music to British audiences as host of the groundbreaking 1960’s TV show, Hullabaloo.

One night, sometime in the early 1980’s my Dad played me one of his favorite records. When the needle hit the vinyl and I heard Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee for the first time, my young brain was blown – just as Rory’s had been when he heard the same music just a few miles away and 40 years before.

In 2008, my Dad and his friend John McEwen (who happens to be Rory McEwen’s nephew), helped to revive the dormant theatrical group, Duns Players.  Since then, Duns Players has grown, thrived and branched into ever more adventurous theatrical territory, from Shakespeare to world premieres, from one-act plays to musicals. Some of these plays were written by Dad. Many were written by John. Duns Players brought to Dad, John and the community around Duns, great joy.

Having lived a great life, my Dad died 11 June 2023. Generously, John asked if he could write Dad’s obituary. As it happens, John used to write obituaries for the Daily Telegraph. As John and I spoke about Dad, our conversation drifted into “what is family, tribe, clan?” territory. John told me he was in line to be the next Chief of Clan MacEwan, who had been without a Chieftain for more than 500 years.

I suggested to John that as part of the Chicago-area-wide celebration of Rory McEwen (see below) the Honored Clan of the Chicago Scots 2025 Scottish Festival & Highland Games (13 & 14 June at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton) should be Clan MacEwan. I’m happy to report that John agreed.

The Scottish Festival & Highland Games is a vibrant showcase of Scottish culture. Treasured by generations, it’s a family-friendly event that attracts 10,000-15,000 attendees annually. The 2025 Festival features an impressive lineup of activities such as the largest pipe band championship in North America, Scottish heavy athletics like the iconic caber-toss, highland dancing, dogs of Scotland, a kids area & Scottish petting zoo, Scottish food & drink, whisky tastings, a classic British car show, a bustling marketplace offering a wide array of Scottish goods, cooking demonstrations by the National Chef of Scotland, and a Celtic rock music stage featuring some of Scotland’s best artists.

Fast forward a couple of years to 24 March 2025, His Majesty the King’s Lord Lyon, signed a warrant granting my Dad’s pal, Sir John R.H. McEwen, 5th Baronet of Marchmont and Bardrochat, the arms to signify his hereditary chiefship. And, just like that, the MacEwans had their first Chief for 575 years!

MacEwans from all around the world are invited and encouraged to come to Chicago, to march with their newly appointed Chief, as Sir John leads the Parade of Tartans. Around dusk on Saturday June 14, when all the piping and drumming competitions are done, the entire festival will gather for the massed bands ceremony. During the ceremony John will be offered the “Salute to the Chieftain” by 1,000 pipers and drummers. It is a moment when time and distance seem to fade and vanish, leaving a unique and incredibly moving connection to family.

And, here’s something that warms this son’s heart – at the Games John will perform a one-man play he wrote for Duns Players. It’s about Scottish history and Scottish identity.  It’s called Country: Scotland. Whit like is it?

Now, please rewind back to my conversation with Jerry. I was honored by Jerry’s invitation to join the committee. And I accepted with one condition – that we celebrate the musical as well as the artistic side of Rory’s identity. The committee agreed and we invited another of Chicago’s venerable institutions, the Old Town School of Folk Music, to join us. I suggested we arrange a concert featuring musicians to play music from the Scottish and American folk traditions that Rory loved so much.

*friends, here’s an apposite warning to anyone who serves on a committee….be careful what you suggest in a meeting.*

The committee agreed we should organize a concert and said “that’s a good idea, Gus. You should curate it.”

I’ve had great fun putting this concert together. Iona Fyfe, who was voted Scottish Folk-Singer of the Year and Skerryvore, who were voted as Scotland’s best live act will represent Rory’s Scottish musical roots. And the band I’m proud to play with, a Scottish-American honky-tonk band called John Ballantyne’s Crazy Heart, will represent the American folk traditions that inspired Rory. The musicians will perform some of the tunes Rory and his brother Alex recorded with Alan Lomax for Smithsonian Folkways as they made their way across America in the 1950’s, en-route to performing on the Ed Sullivan Show (years before the Beatles). We’ll also perform some of the Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy and Pete Seeger tunes that Rory loved. Rory’s family will offer reflections on what it was like growing up with Rory-the-father. Professor Tony Jones CBE, a member of Chicago Scots Board and former President of Schools of Art in Chicago and Glasgow, will talk about Rory-the-artist. And acclaimed Chicago artist, Tony Fitzpatrick will examine the beautiful point where art, music and nature come together. The concert will take place in Maurer Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music at 7:00pm on Thursday, June 12, 2025. It promises to be a unique celebration of Rory’s amazing musical legacy. Get your tickets here.

Friends, I asked you if you ever felt connected to someone you never met.

I never met Rory McEwen. But I feel connected to him. My family knows his family. We grew up in the same place. We share a passion for music, art and nature.

Discovering Rory McEwen has been a magical experience. I invite you to discover the magic too.

P.S. The concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Highland Games are just two Rory McEwen related events. Anchored by the Driehaus Museum’s exhibition, which opens today, many incredible organizations will come together for a Chicago-area-wide celebration of Rory McEwen.  Our partner organizations are: Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Chicago Botanic Garden, Driehaus Museum, the Magnificent Mile Association, The Morton Arboretum, Old Town School of Folk Music, and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Take a look to see the full programme of events HERE.