Across 12 years and 8 seasons, “Outlander” has proven itself to be a force in the television zeitgeist, weaving the century-spanning love story of Jamie and Claire from the Scottish Highlands to Colonial America and back again. Much like their distant and treacherous travels in the show, Jamie and Claire’s journey has stolen the hearts of fans around the world. (She, of course, is played by the Dublin-born, County Monaghan-raised Caitríona Balfe.)
While the show may have reached its epic conclusion, the final episode premiering in May of 2026, it seems the noise around “Outlander” has never been further from silent. What do we have to thank for that? The music, of course. “Outlander in Concert” had its world premiere at The Usher Hall in Edinburgh last Saturday, kickstarting a tour almost as globe-trotting as the ever-shifting geography within the series. I had the pleasure of attending the orchestral concert as well as chatting with the cast and crew of the TV phenomenon.
“It’s such a character of the show, the music”, Sam Hueghan said. “It has its own life and really is very emotional when you listen to it.” Heughan, who plays the Highland-bred hero of the show Jamie Fraser, was more than ready to face the music when he was met with crowds of fans on the red carpet at the Usher Hall. While he may be saying goodbye to playing his iconic role, the memories attached to the soundtrack are eternal. “The opening theme tune, it’s so iconic. To hear that would be amazing.”
John Bell, who plays Young Ian, was also in attendance and shared his excitement to see some of his scrappy character’s most pivotal moments brought to life through the music.
“I really love Young Ian’s return and the beautiful music that comes with that,” he said. “The first time you see him after he lived with the mohawk for two years and comes back with the Transformation – I think that’s always a very effective moment.”
The concert featured montages mapping out the most impactful moments across all eight seasons brought to life by an orchestra and live vocals. The aisles filled with fans and crew members, emotions were high from the very first chord, building to a cathartic crescendo when the aforementioned theme tune hit the surrounding walls at the eleventh hour of the evening and captured the very essence of “Outlander” like lighting in a bottle. It is in this moment that even someone unfamiliar with the show could understand what it means to take a step into this world, whether you’re swirling a toe in the pond or falling head-first. So what is it that makes the music so impactful? Bagpipes and flutes galore, perhaps it's the feeling of running for the hills, on the edge of conquest, tasting liberation that the Scottish folk-infused sound elicits. Harriet Slater, who plays Ellen MacKenzie in the prequel spin-off “Blood of My Blood,” had her own anecdote on the score.
“I remember flying back from my recall up in Scotland back down to London where I was living at the time and listening to ‘The Dance of The Druids’ from the Outlander soundtrack and it was so atmospheric and ethereal,” Slater said. “It was perfect as you’re ascending into the clouds.”
For how specific the music is to a by-gone era, its ability to place you on the imaginary battleground, nothing but the goosebumps on your skin as armor, is a testament to composer Bear McCreary’s work on the show. Both Slater and her co-star Jamie Roy, who plays Brian Fraser, were ecstatic to hear that McCreary was back for “Blood of My Blood.”
“When Brian and Ellen meet on the bridge for the first time and you hear that theme, there’s something just so magical about it and it adds so much to the scene,” Roy said. Fans of the music won’t have to wait long to hear McCreary’s magic once more, with Season 2 of “Blood of my Blood” premiering this Fall.
Showrunners Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis were just as full of praise for Bear McCreary.
“It turned out [McCreary] had studied the Jacobite era and he was really into bagpipes and that sound,” Davis said. “He was a perfect choice.”
McCreary’s work on the soundtrack is not only time-travelling but also genre hopping, from the traditional Scottish sound to the inclusion of Caribbean beats and American bluegrass. “[McCreary] grew with the show, just like everybody. When it changed locations, he changed locations with it,”
Roberts said. “He changed the music, he grew exactly what we needed and when the show needed it.” Whilst McCreary may not have been present at the concert, his company was felt by the recreation of his powerful dedication to the series over the years.
With World Outlander Day this week, June 1, that is - there’s no better time to celebrate not only the music but the legacy “Outlander” has built in its blazed trail. Heughan himself saw the evening as an early celebration of the annual commemoration.
“I feel like this is a great celebration, isn’t it? I think around the world we can celebrate 'Outlander.'”
If you ask me, World Outlander Day can be celebrated any day of the year, and what better way to partake than seeing “Outlander in Concert”? The tour crosses the pond Sept. 25, storming through the U.S. before returning to the UK on Feb. 14 just in time for Valentine’s Day. With more dates following throughout Europe and even more to be announced, get your tickets before someone else seizes them.
For more information and the tickets themselves, visit here.
