The stage is set for The Proclaimers return to the Scottish Borders
Last updated 8th Jun 2023
The blue canvas towering over the Border Union Showground in Kelso is a reminder of the first time I saw The Proclaimers live at T in the Park in the early noughties.
Admittedly, in a haze of youth, I only discovered the Scottish stars were playing inside the tent during an attempt to escape the rain.
No such issues this weekend; while it's no Leith, the sun is forecast to shine on brothers Craig and Charlie Reid as they perform in the Big Top in the Borders on Saturday night.
It's one of four shows The Proclaimers have lined-up in Scotland this month, as part of their Dentures Out tour - with three of the 6,000 capacity gigs already sold out.
At the time of writing, a limited number of tickets were still available for the Borders event, which includes support from Alas de Liona (5pm), Hamish Hawk (5.45pm), and Admiral Fallow (7pm).
But, while it has more than ten times the capacity of their last gig at the town's Tait Hall in 2009, the rock duo - famous for hits such as "I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)", "Sunshine on Leith", and "Letter from America" - revealed many of the songs will be familiar.
"These are the biggest gigs of the year for us by quite a way," Charlie told Greatest Hits Radio. "And it's out in the sunshine, so hopefully it's going to be a good weekend - I'm really, really looking forward to it.
"We do tour a lot. Talking about T in the Park, we came back in 2001 and - outside of Covid - we've basically been out two years out of three ever since. So it's definitely by far the most productive part of our career, and by far the most enjoyable as well.
"Because writing songs and then playing live gives us the biggest thrill. The fact we're able to do it and present new material every couple of years, not just give exactly the same show, that's really important. I think if all you ever play is old songs then it becomes a bit nightclubby, and we don't want that."
In saying that, it's ten years since a musical celebrating The Proclaimers biggest hits was released.
And Charlie admits the Sunshine on Leith film has opened up their music to a whole new audience - including people who have never been to a gig before.
"The better known songs we always do," he added. "No matter where you play, or how long the set, you have to play the better known songs. Within that set we rotate it a bit every night so we never play the same songs two nights running. But, rest assured, the better known songs will all be played."
The Proclaimers performance is the first of a series of huge gigs planned in our region this summer - with the likes of Billy Ocean and Sophie Ellis Bexter performing at EdgeFest, near Jedburgh; Pendulum and Primal Scream headlining the Lindisfarne Festival; and Salamander Street star Callum Beattie, Sleeper and Big Country performing at MacArts Centre in Galashiels.
They follow on from the success of three huge concerts in one week at Floors Castle in Kelso last summer - with Bryan Adams, Tears for Fears and Michael Buble all headlining.
It makes a change from having to travel all over the country, and the expense that entails, to see some of the biggest acts.
But, to keep them coming back, we need to support them.
For more details, and to book tickets, to see The Proclaimers this weekend click here.
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