X-Files star David Duchovny returned to his Scottish roots tonight to open his European tour with a lowkey gig in Glasgow.
The actor, writer and musician played The Art School on Scott Street, launching a run of European dates that will take him on to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, Prague and Berlin.
Best known around the world as FBI agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files and as Hank Moody in Californication, Duchovny has spent more than a decade developing a parallel career as a singer-songwriter.
Tonight’s Glasgow concert comes following the release of Prince of Pieces, his fourth studio album, in August. The 13-track record follows Hell or Highwater, Every Third Thought and Gestureland.
The 66-year-old New Yorker has a close affinity and family connections to Scotland through his mother Margaret “Meg” Miller, who grew up in Aberdeenshire before moving to the United States.
Her family came from Whitehills on the Moray Firth coast, while she later grew up in Aberdeen. Duchovny has spoken frequently about the influence his Scottish mother had on him, particularly her emphasis on education and hard work.
His Scottish connections also include family holidays to East Kilbride. Duchovny’s uncle Andrew McLaren moved from Aberdeen to Glasgow and then founded engineering company Clyde Fasteners in East Kilbride.
The actor visited Scotland as a child for family holidays and spent time with his uncle, recalling trips that included golf and journeys into the Highlands.
Speaking on the Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers podcast, Duchovny remembered visiting Scotland when he was a child. He recalled his uncle “Mac” taking him golfing during visits to Scotland.
Duchovny also recalled visiting Loch Ness and celebrating his 10th birthday on Erraid, the small island off Mull associated with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.
His relationship with Scotland continued after he became one of television’s biggest stars.
In 2000 he returned for the royal premiere of romantic comedy Return to Me, attended by the then Prince Charles, and wore a kilt in his family’s MacFarlane tartan.
He has since returned regularly and has spoken warmly about having cousins around Scotland and about his mother’s connection to the country.
Ahead of a previous Scottish tour, Duchovny said his mother had studied in Edinburgh and joked about the city’s famous Mons Meg cannon sharing her name.
Duchovny’s music career began comparatively late. He started learning guitar and writing songs as an adult before releasing his debut album Hell or Highwater in 2015.
After the Caledonian launch of his tour, Duchovny is due to perform at London’s Union Chapel tomorrow before travelling through mainland Europe.