The Proclaimers performing at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Tuesday 16th October 2018


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Twins Craig and Charlie Reid, better known as The Proclaimers delivered a set list of songs that are still part of today’s musical landscape to a packed Royal Concert Hall last night.

With their catchy tunes and stirring harmonies they have been major players in popular music for over 30 years and it was easy to see why. Opening with the title track from their latest album, Angry Cyclist, it was immediately clear that the full vocals and harmonies of the brothers are the strength of the band,

They effortlessly took this audience from heartache to joy without breaking a sweat with the likes of Let’s Get Married, Through Him, A Long Long Time Ago and the Beautiful South sounding Spinning Around In The Air.

They launched into Sky Takes The Soul and a passionate rendition of Over And Done With. Songs from their latest album were received attentively and may well make it on to that list of Proclaimers set essentials alongside the anthemic Letter From America.

I’m On My Way (memorably used in the movie Shrek) and the fabulous Sunshine On Leith were understandably included as admirers of guitar based, singer songwriter driven popular music were given a real treat. Completely unpretentious and with none of the fancy trappings of some stage shows, the brothers let their music and vocal range shine through.

There were plenty of essentials held in reserve for the celebratory closing salvo with the joyous Life With You, Then I Met You and the foot stomping I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), all songs that you cannot greet sitting down.

For the encore Cap In Hand and Make My Heart Fly were followed by a rocking version of Joyful Kilmarnock Blues, a song that is a standout at every one of their gigs. Delivering a set to delight both die hard and casual fans alike with the right blend of classics and new material, with vocals right out of the top drawer, this crowd could not have asked for much more than that.