KINGS OF THE ROAD ON TRACK FOR STORNOWAY
Interview Release
Hebridean Celtic Festival
Year of Creative Scotland 2012
- HebCelt ready to welcome The Proclaimers
- Headlining duo back on festival duty
- Island audience to hear songs from new album
Scottish Cup finals aside, Craig and Charlie Reid have had many milestones to celebrate this year: turning 50, the release of their ninth studio album and a return to live performances after a well-earned break at the end of a decade of near constant touring.
The twins took a year out to write ‘Like Comedy’, which was released in May, and are now ready to get back on the road and the festival circuit, including headlining the Hebridean Celtic Festival which starts on Wednesday (11 July) and runs until Saturday.
The Proclaimers top the bill with The Waterboys and Kassidy at the award-winning HebCelt, based in Stornoway in Lewis and now in its 17th year.
They will follow this up with headline slots at the Big Tent Festival in Fife later in the month and main stage appearances at the Cambridge Folk Festival and the V Festival in Chelmsford in August, followed by a six-week UK tour in October and November.
For the Reid brothers, who next year will mark the 30th anniversary of forming, it’s a return to what they like doing best: “Live work has been by far the most important part of our work over the last ten years”, said Charlie. “We enjoy the act of performing songs - especially new ones - and can't wait to get back to live shows.
“And festivals are so important because they allow a band to get across to an audience which is not their own.”
Many of the new songs will be given an outing at HebCelt, but the island audience can also expect to hear some Proclaimers classics: “We always play a mixture of old and new songs”, said Charlie. “There are certain tunes that the audience demands.
“We have been rehearsing all the tracks on the new album, and we will certainly play a few of them on the night.”
However, what they can’t expect is an appearance by ‘Craigette and Charlotte’, the characters depicted in the video for the latest single ‘Spinning Around in the Air’ and actually the twins dressed up as old ladies under the direction of Little Britain’s Matt Lucas, one of The Proclaimers’ biggest fans.
“Our initial reaction was a degree of scepticism, but we were soon persuaded”, Charlie recalls. “We had a great time doing the video, but don't expect a repeat.”
This year also sees the filming of the movie version of the hugely successful award-winning musical drama ‘Sunshine On Leith’ featuring songs by The Proclaimers. The film is directed by Annie Griffin with a screenplay written by Stephen Greenhorn and is produced by Glasgow-based production company Black Camel Pictures.
While Craig and Charlie have no direct involvement in the film- other than having written the songs – they say they are delighted at the continuing success of the musical and its progression on to the big screen.
And if the boys are concerned at reaching the Big Five O they don’t show it and don’t believe their attitudes towards music, or life generally, will change dramatically having entered their sixth decade.
“There has been no adverse reaction to being a year older”, Charlie reports. “Attitudes are bound to alter over the years, and it would be strange if they didn't.
“No subject is off limits to us, but certain themes; love, identity, social commentary and humour have surfaced in all of our records.”
So was there ever a masterplan for The Proclaimers and, if so, are they sticking to it?
“Our only plan was to get off the dole and make our living playing music, says Charlie. “Up to now we have been very lucky, and all we can do is to keep working and improving what we do.”
For further information contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The 17th HebCelt takes place between 11th and 14th July 2012 and will, for the second year running, have two main stages on the Castle Green in front of the Lews Castle in Stornoway, as well as performances in An Lanntair and throughout the rural community.
2. This year it has been selected for the second year in succession as one of the top 10 UK summer festivals by music magazine Songlines. It emerged victorious as Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards 2011, in a three-way final with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.
3. HebCelt injects more than £1.5 million annually into the local economy.
4. It is regarded by critics, performers and festival-goers as one of the top Celtic music festivals in Europe.
5. The festival is made possible through the support of funders, advertisers and a vital and large volunteer workforce- http://www.hebceltfest.com/backstage/sponsors. It relies on scores of volunteer workers who clock up over 3,500 unpaid hours during the event.
6. HebCelt has twice won the Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, which is voted for by the public.
7. HebCelt has been hailed as one of the UK’s top 50 festivals by the Daily Telegraph and one of the top five by The Scotsman.
8. A large quantity of children under 14 can attend concerts at the Festival Arena each night for free if accompanied by someone who is 18 or older.
9. This year’s headliners are The Waterboys, The Proclaimers and Kassidy. Other artists appearing include Julie Fowlis, Skerryvore, Admiral Fallow, Roddy Woomble, Niteworks, Mànran and Larkin Poe.
10 HebCelt has its own YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter outlets.
http://www.youtube.com/user/hebceltfest
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hebridean-Celtic-Festival/70400006768?ref=ts
http://twitter.com/#!/hebcelt/
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