Proclaimers ‘bigger than ever’ after film success

The Proclaimers at Sunshine on Leith's premiere. Picture: Jane Barlow

Twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said the film had introduced a host of new fans to their music and led to sell-out shows around the world.

The pair recently took T in the Park by storm when they played at the Strathallan Castle festival last month – with a barrier even collapsing during the performance as fans pushed forward to catch a glimpse of the icons.

And the unstoppable duo are set to headline the Belladrum Tartan Heart festival on Thursday ahead of a UK-wide tour in the autumn, followed by a planned a tour of the US and Canada in the New Year.

Craig said: “If you get a film that is reasonably successful and then it goes to DVD, it widens your audience.

“We get a lot of people at gigs who would never normally come to see The Proclaimers or even go to a concert. A lot of people who watch musicals, older people and children have got into what we’re doing.

“In our upcoming autumn tour, we’ll have the biggest crowds we’ve ever played to and the film has definitely had an impact on that.”

Sunshine on Leith was released in 2013 and immediately became a box office success – receiving rave reviews from critics who dubbed it “a wet, sloppy dog-kiss of a film”.

Starring Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks and George MacKay, the movie was based on the play of the same name and uses hits from The Proclaimers back catalogue to tell the story of two soldiers returning home from Afghanistan and finding love in the Capital.

Craig said the band’s continued success was down to their loyal following of fans – but insisted he and his brother weren’t quite big enough to be future headliners at T in the Park.

He said: “If you’ve got some kind of back catalogue and are still producing new stuff like we are and you can play and have a live audience, that’s vital.

“I think it’s very difficult now to make money on recorded music – especially if you are a new act. It must be very tough for them. If you have an audience like we have and can go out and play, then you’re all right.

“We did Belladrum about ten years ago. It was very wet but it was a fantastic crowd, all there in their cagoules.

“It was a really good night and I’m looking forward to getting back there. I just hope it’s a wee bit drier this time.

“The stage is well situated and it’s a very good setting so we’re looking forward to it. Thursday is the opening night so it should be good.

“The honest truth is I don’t know if we could headline T in the Park. It’s a much bigger thing. If we were asked, we would do it but I’m not sure we are headline material.

“You want someone who has sold a lot of records in the last two or three years so I don’t think that will happen.”