SINGER KT Tunstall and actor Alan Cumming are to give a Burns Night boost to the campaign for Scottish independence.

The pair have recorded a version of Dougie MacLean’s Caledonia which is to be released tomorrow (January 25) with all proceeds raised from sales going to Voices for Scotland’s campaign to grow support for independence.

“We are both supporters of independence and of Scottish voices being heard and so releasing this song on the birthday of surely the most potent Scottish voice ever, in aid of an organisation that aims to get Scots talking about their future just could not make me any happier,” said Cummings.

They had originally intended to record the song before the coronavirus crisis but the plan was put on hold when the pandemic hit.

“One of the things I love most about Scotland is how we embrace our history and tradition as well as our very vibrant present, and Dougie McLean has always represented that in his work,” Cummings said, adding that he “adored” KT and “jumped at the chance” to sing Caledonia with her in New York more than a year ago.

“We decided immediately to record it but then, of course, the world turned upside down. But we finally did it and, in the tradition of the Scottish diaspora, she recorded her track in LA and I did mine in my house in Perthshire.”

KT said it was “lovely” to be able to sing a song that connected people.

“Scotland shines such a bright light in the world, and I think you realise that even more from afar,” she said.

“Burns Night is a lovely global gathering for Scots at home or abroad, like Alan and I and especially this year, after everything we’ve been through, it was lovely to do something that connected us all. Singing with Alan is just pure joy, what an amazing talent he is.”

She said she had come to appreciate Dougie MacLean’s artistry more and more.

“He keeps all the ancient magic of Scottish traditional music whilst always making it feel right for the present day. I find myself singing his songs for weeks afterwards,” said KT.

The recording will be available from tomorrow on all download and streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.

Allan Whyte, campaign organiser for Voices for Scotland, said Tunstall and Cumming’s version of MacLean’s classic “begins delicately and evolves into an epic, heart-melting anthem deserving of a massive crowd to sing along”.

“We’re so thankful to KT and Alan for their support and for getting behind our campaign to make politics and the question of Scotland’s future about the people of Scotland,” he said. “We’re working together to create a vision for a fairer, more equal, greener, richer and happier Scotland and it’s only with the support of people like KT and Alan that we can do this.”

Voices for Scotland is a non-party, civic organisation campaigning for Scottish independence by attempting to bring people together in “open, honest and respectful discussion” to talk about the issues affecting the country’s future.