Proclaimers set to rock Wick
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IT’S almost 250 miles from Leith to Wick – the perfect journey for Scotland’s two top musicians The Proclaimers.
Identical twins Craig and Charlie Reid are heading up the bill at this weekend’s most northerly mainstream music festival, B-fest.
The boys are back in town after nearly a decade since last playing in Caithness and are hoping the sunshine on Leith follows them up the A9.
"We played in Wick, I think it was the town hall, about nine or 10 years ago," Charlie told the Caithness Courier.
"That’s the only time we’ve played Wick but are really looking forward to it this weekend. We’re just praying for half-decent weather – that’s always the big factor when you’re doing an outside gig."
B-fest returns to the Riverside for the third time and it promises to be the biggest year yet for the Highlands’ newest festival.
The Leith duo have been on the radar of organiser Ryan Cook since year one but were out of reach until the opportunity arose this year to sign them up.
"B-fest is a new one on me," Charlie admitted. "But we played down at Herefordshire last week and a guy handed me a student magazine with a guide to British festivals and you forget just how many have sprung up in the last few years.
"We were laughing with our English promoter who was saying that 25 years ago there were two or three festivals in Britain."
The journey to the far north will be a trip down memory lane for the boys who are approaching their 30th year together as The Proclaimers.
"I remember our last gig in Wick had a very enthusiastic crowd and it was a good show," said the singer-songwriter.
"A drink in the hotel afterwards turned into a party and seemed to go on for quite a long time. I remember our drummer at the time looked very bedraggled the next morning when we were heading back south."
Always popular in their native Scotland, the band have also enjoyed gold and platinum singles and albums across the pond and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
Over the past few years they have graced main stages at V-festival, T in the Park and Glastonbury, in between relentless touring and studio recordings.
Charlie said the crowds in Wick should expect an up-tempo set with some ballads, a few newer tunes from 2012’s Like Comedy
and all their big hits.
"If you want a good reception then you put on a good show but, of course, it certainly helps if the crowd is up for it before you walk on," he said.
"When you do festivals you try and keep it up tempo because you want festival crowds on their toes and singing along. I hope folk enjoy it and it’s good weather. If the crowd have a great time then we’ll have a great time."
Also playing will be a selection of some of the best up-and-coming bands from around Scotland, with the hugely popular Fatherson and Imagineers especially catching the eye.
For the first time the festival opens on Friday night, with local bands being showcased on the main stage from 6pm to 11pm.
To finish the night off, rising stars the LaFontaines are headlining, following on from last year’s success when the Motherwell rap rockers tore up B-fest Monster Music stage.
On Saturday, the full site opens with a new family-friendly area and a signing tent where fans can catch a word with their favourite acts and get an autograph or two.
Add to this fairground rides and probably the best-stocked bar you are likely to see at any Scottish festival, it is sure to be one of the highlights of the circuit.
All together now, "I’m on my way from misery to happiness today..."
