The Proclaimers at Ipswich Regent

Regent Theatre, Ipswich – 4 November 2026

Another evening with the Reid brothers

The Proclaimers again, this time accompanied by my glamorous assistant, Dave Walne. We made it to the Regent Theatre in Ipswich without too much difficulty, although Dave nearly suffered a heart attack when he discovered that four hours of parking would cost him £12. Twelve quid to leave a car sitting in one place for an evening! And people wonder why our high streets are struggling.

Having survived that financial trauma, we arrived nice and early, giving us plenty of time to settle in and watch the support act. I’ve seen The Proclaimers a few times over the years and they’ve never disappointed, although there’s always the possibility of one particular song spoiling my evening. More on that later.

A little folk-goth to start

Opening proceedings was Amelia Coburn, who described her music as folk-goth. Not a description you come across every day, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but she turned out to be excellent. Her songs were wonderfully quirky, occasionally rather weird, and accompanied by a terrific sense of humour.

She had a lovely way of engaging with the audience, and her between-song chat was every bit as entertaining as the music. I always appreciate a support act who brings something different to the evening rather than simply going through the motions. Amelia certainly did that, and I’d happily see her again. An excellent start to proceedings.

Hearts, Hibs and a family betrayal

Before getting to the main event, I should probably address something that people occasionally find rather strange. Craig and Charlie Reid are famously devoted Hibernian supporters, whereas I follow their Edinburgh rivals, Heart of Midlothian. I’ve been asked how I can possibly like The Proclaimers when they’re Hibs fans. My answer is always the same: because I’m not childish. Music over football any day.

Besides, Sunshine on Leith is one of the finest sporting anthems you’ll ever hear. Watching thousands of Hibs supporters singing it at Easter Road is genuinely spine-tingling, regardless of which team you support.

My own Hearts allegiance goes back to my paternal grandmother, who came from Edinburgh, where the family were Hibs supporters. However, being a rather antagonistic twelve-year-old during a family holiday in February 1982, I decided I ought to investigate the alternatives and went to watch both teams play before I made a decision. I went to Easter Road on 20 February with my Uncle David to watch Hibs draw 2-2 with St Mirren, with Frank McAvennie among the goalscorers for the visitors. The following week it was off to Tynecastle, where Hearts thrashed Raith Rovers 4-0.

I had a decision to make, and Hearts won, literally and figuratively. Some members of the family went to their graves never forgiving me for even considering Hearts. Wonderful. Forty-four years later, I’m still a Hearts supporter, still love The Proclaimers and still think Sunshine on Leith is magnificent. It’s almost as though football and music can coexist.

Forty years and still plenty to say

The Proclaimers have been making music since 1983, when twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid formed the band after playing in various earlier groups. Their breakthrough came after supporting The Housemartins in 1986, with Letter From America bringing them widespread attention the following year. Their distinctive Scottish accents, close harmonies and straightforward approach to songwriting immediately made them stand out.

They’ve often been compared to the Everly Brothers, which makes sense when you hear how their voices work together, but there’s considerably more to The Proclaimers than a couple of brothers singing in harmony. Their music draws on folk, rock, pop and punk, with lyrics that can be funny, political, romantic or deeply moving, sometimes all within the same song.

What I particularly admire is that they’ve never been content simply to tour the old favourites. Their latest album, You May Offend, arrived in September 2026 and demonstrates that Craig and Charlie still have plenty to get off their chests. Politics, hypocrisy, injustice and the increasingly complicated business of expressing an opinion all come under scrutiny. Whether you agree with everything they say is beside the point. They’ve never been particularly interested in pleasing everybody, and I rather like that.

Not just a greatest-hits show

The evening began with Knock It Down, the opening track from the new album, which immediately established that this wasn’t going to be a straightforward nostalgia exercise. Over and Done With followed, bringing the first big audience reaction, before There’s a Touch and Dentures Out kept things moving. The title track from You May Offend also featured early in the set, and the newer material fitted comfortably alongside the established favourites.

The band gave everything plenty of energy, with punchy arrangements that never overwhelmed those unmistakable voices. Garry John Kane on bass, Zac Ware on guitar and pedal steel, Steven Christie on keyboards and Clive Jenner on drums provided a wonderfully tight backing throughout the evening. They gave the songs real depth without ever taking attention away from the brothers.

And Craig and Charlie themselves? Those voices remain remarkable. Strong, distinctive and unmistakably Scottish, with the harmonies that have been central to their sound for more than four decades. There’s something refreshing about performers who don’t feel the need for elaborate stage productions or unnecessary theatrics. Just two blokes who can sing, backed by musicians who know exactly what they’re doing.

A catalogue worth celebrating

Of course, there’s a reason The Proclaimers have remained so popular for so long. They write bloody good songs, and there’s a substantial back catalogue to draw upon. Let’s Get Married brought another familiar favourite, while What Makes You Cry?, Anything and But It Is demonstrated the variety in their songwriting.

There were plenty of less obvious selections too, including Hate My Love, In Recognition, Rainbows, A Little Bit Late and Sean. It’s easy to underestimate just how much material they’ve recorded over the years. For casual listeners, The Proclaimers might mean three or four enormous songs, but for those of us who’ve followed them for rather longer, there’s a wealth of excellent music that never troubled the singles charts.

What makes their songwriting particularly effective is the way they combine memorable melodies with lyrics that actually have something to say. Their songs often sound deceptively simple, but beneath those catchy choruses there’s frequently a much deeper story. They can make you laugh, think or feel thoroughly miserable, occasionally within the space of three minutes. That’s quite a talent.

A letter from Scotland

As the evening progressed, the bigger songs began arriving. Cap in Hand was followed by the magnificent Letter From America, a song I’ve loved since first hearing it back in 1987. It’s one of those records that manages to sound wonderfully uplifting while dealing with some fairly grim subjects.

The lyrics reference the Highland Clearances and the displacement of Scottish communities through economic hardship, yet the melody practically demands that you sing along. That contrast between serious subject matter and irresistible music is something The Proclaimers have always done particularly well. Life With You and Sky Takes the Soul followed, before we arrived at one of the evening’s undoubted highlights.

Sunshine on Leith

Now, here’s where my football loyalties supposedly become a problem. They don’t. Sunshine on Leith is a beautiful song, simple as that. Whether you associate it with Hibernian, Edinburgh, a loved one or simply a particularly moving piece of music, there’s something special about hearing it performed live.

The atmosphere changes as soon as those opening notes begin. The audience joins in, the singing becomes more emotional and for a few minutes the whole theatre feels united by something rather wonderful. It’s a song that has taken on a life of its own, far beyond the album on which it originally appeared.

And yes, this Hearts supporter thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. Don’t tell the family.

Five hundred miles too far

After Then I Met You, the band launched into I’m on My Way, another glorious singalong that always seems to put a smile on people’s faces. Then came the inevitable I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), and I suspect I was the only person in the Regent who remained firmly seated while everybody else was on their feet singing and clapping along.

Now, I should explain my dislike of this particular song because people often find it strange that I can love The Proclaimers yet absolutely detest their biggest hit. It’s not simply the song itself, although I’ve certainly heard enough of it over the years. It’s the fact that so many people seem to think 500 Miles is all The Proclaimers have ever done.

Here’s a band with more than forty years of wonderful music behind them, albums full of intelligent songwriting, some genuinely moving ballads and a catalogue that deserves far more recognition than it receives. Yet mention The Proclaimers to some people and all they can do is start singing about walking five hundred miles. It drives me mad.

Letter From America, Sunshine on Leith, Life With You, I’m on My Way, Over and Done With and countless others demonstrate what superb songwriters Craig and Charlie Reid are. Reducing their entire career to one admittedly enormous hit does them a tremendous disservice.

Still, judging by the reaction around me, I was very much in the minority. The audience absolutely loved it, and fair play to them. I remained seated, quietly making my protest, while several hundred people had the time of their lives. I doubt the brothers noticed.

A proper Scottish send-off

Thankfully, the evening wasn’t quite finished. Craig and Charlie returned for an encore featuring Make My Heart Fly and The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues, two excellent choices that brought us back to the band’s earlier material.

The latter, in particular, is a wonderful example of their original sound: energetic, slightly rough around the edges and full of character. It was a fitting way to end an evening that had covered so much of their career, from those early recordings through to the new album.

The verdict

Another excellent evening with The Proclaimers. Craig and Charlie Reid remain terrific live performers, and their band is every bit as impressive. The older songs still sound wonderful, the newer material stands up well alongside them and there’s a warmth and honesty to their performances that makes the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.

Amelia Coburn was a cracking support act, Dave provided excellent company and we even managed to survive the parking charges. My highlights were probably Sunshine on Leith and Letter From America, although there was plenty else to enjoy across the evening.

Would I see The Proclaimers again? Absolutely. They’re one of those bands who consistently deliver, and there’s something rather reassuring about that after more than forty years.

Would I stand up for 500 Miles next time? Not a chance. There are far too many better Proclaimers songs deserving of that enthusiasm.

And Dave, next time we’re getting the bus.