King of the road twins make a welcome return

THANKFULLY the burr of Charlie Reid's thick Scottish accent wasn't so dense that I couldn't make out what he was saying.

And the feel-good fervour of the Proclaimers' music was clearly reflected in his sheer enthusiasm towards his craft.

Fife twins Craig and Charlie, aged 47, first shot to stardom in the early 80s and had a string of timeless hits like I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), I'm on My Way and King Of The Road. Since then they have stayed popular with fans with their relentless touring schedule.

But despite being from the highlands, the Scotsmen are more acquainted with the Westcountry than many people think.

"We spent two years living in Gwynear, in Cornwall, when we were children," revealed Charlie. "I have really great memories of when we moved to the Westcountry in the 70s. We were by the sea and enjoyed the great weather and beaches."

He said the pair were glad to be returning to the South West on their latest tour.

"We have played in Exeter many times now and always get a good reception," he added. "Plus the Great Hall is an excellent venue. We're hoping that those people who have been to see us in the past will come back again with their friends for a party."

The pair have just returned from a busy summer of performing at festivals.

"We love the festival season," beamed Charlie. "It doesn't matter which one it is, just being on stage in front of so many people is amazing. Festivals are also a great platform to introduce our music to new audiences. Often people are surprised by what we have to offer."

Charlie admits that the band seems to spend most of its time on the road touring.

He said: "We have travelled a lot in our lifetime, so that is probably why journeys are reflected in our music. Many ideas for songs come to us when we are on the road, so we put pen to paper and finish it when we are back in the studio."

Charlie puts the success of the band down to continuous, hard work. He said: "Touring is incredibly tiring. Sometimes we forget which town we're in, especially when we were touring North America.

"Travelling to all the different time zones can be exhausting, your body gets out of kilter. I get the best sleep on the tour bus beds, which are so narrow they are like coffins. I think it is the rocking motion. We also have a few beers after the show to relax.

"Lately we haven't stopped, but we are hoping to have a holiday in January."

Charlie often gets recognised by fans. He said: "We don't seek publicity, but mostly when people recognise us they are pleasant. If someone is polite we are always happy to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

The Proclaimers eighth album, Notes & Rhymes, was released earlier this year.

"We have developed our sound and offer a mixture of songs," said Charlie. "We know we are incredibly lucky to do something that we love.

"To have found a job that is both expressive and fulfilling is incredible. If we weren't professional singers we would still be playing music in pubs, because we are so dedicated.

"We know that the touring won't last forever, but we hope that we have a few more years on the stage left."

The Proclaimers perform at the Great Hall, in Exeter, on Thursday. Tickets cost £22.50 and doors open at 7pm. To book tickets call 01392 263518, or visit www.exeterboxoffice.com.