THE PROCLAIMERS IN CONCERT:
Celtic rock duo The Proclaimers has been charming audiences around the world with their sunny Scottish accents and jangly pop tunes for the past three decades. Stateside fans first caught wind of twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid when their song "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" reached No. 3 in the US after appearing in the hit 1993 film Benny & Joon, and they've had a devoted following ever since thanks to their unique Scottish rock sound and rousing live shows. In concert the brothers are all smiles and upbeat energy, leading fans through sing-alongs of favorites like "Sunshine on Leith" and "I'm on My Way" while their backing band kicks out a pub-ready brew of organ, fiddle, and drums. But the highlight of every show is the anthemic and celebratory "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", one of the most insanely fun songs ever written and a serious party starter no matter the venue.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Leith, Scotland-born Craig and Charlie Reid cut their teeth playing in punk bands in high school before forming The Proclaimers in 1983. They got a boost a few years later when a fan sent their demo to British indie rock group The Housemartins, who were so impressed that they invited the brothers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure set the stage for The Proclaimers 1987 debut album This Is the Story, which went gold thanks to Top 3 single "Letter from America". Their 1988 sophomore album Sunshine on Leith was an even bigger success, cracking the Top 10 in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand on the strength of ubiquitous 1988 mega-hit "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The song initially failed to chart in America, but that wasn't the final word—it became a Top 3 hit in the US five years later when it was featured on the soundtrack of the Jonny Depp-starring feature film Benny & Joon. Since then The Proclaimers have toured extensively while maintaining a steady output, including a 2007 comedy version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" which was recorded for charity and ended up topping the UK Singles Chart.