The Proclaimers The Junction, Cambridge.
21 November 2005.

Tonight's excellent show by The Proclaimers was proof, if proof were needed, that Scotland has, not only all the best songwriters, but all the best singers too!

Craig and Charlie have travelled a long way since their striking 80s chart hit 'Letter from America' but the performance they gave tonight, ably backed by Steve Christie on keys, Zac Ware on guitar, Ross McFarlane on drums and the incomparable Garry John Kane on bass, was something of a master class in 'how it's done'!

Having picked up a copy of the band's new album at the airport on my outbound flight to this summer's sunshine, and having played 'Restless Souls' repeatedly on the beach, I was hugely excited at the prospect of hearing these new songs live.

I was not disappointed. Indeed, it was great to see so many of the songs on tonight's set list. What's more they got played alongside all the hits and more from the Brothers Reid.

The title track from that new album kicked off proceedings with 'Letter from America', something you'd have expected to be kept for the 'home strait', sneakily stuck in as the second song in. This certainly had the Cambridge Junction singing from the off.

'I'm gone', 'When love stuck you down' 'Turning away' and 'That's better now', all from the new album, got a similar response. 'My old friend the blues' was the surprise song of the night yet an instant hit with this Cambridge crowd.

'Let's get married', 'Sunshine on Leith' and 'I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)', the latter something of an anthem at Hampden Park these days, were just three of the highlights on the night from these fine sons of Auchtermuchty.

Twenty years on, the music of The Proclaimers sounds as fresh and inventive as it ever did. Long may they continue to thrive and be play live with such tremendous pleasure and passion!  

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