THE closest I have come to seeing The Proclaimers before was around 1987 when they played a small hall in the Outer Hebrides (if my memory serves me) and here I am 28 years later at the other end of the kingdom finally catching them live. And I have to say it was definitely worth the wait.

There may have been funfair rides a few hundred yards away on Bournemouth sea front but tonight the party was definitely in the Pavilion with the Proclaimers. Charlie and Craig, the boys from Leith, came up with the songs, a four piece band supplied the music and a thousand voices in the crowd provided backing vocals for what was a night that was a joy to be part of.

Everyone knows and has probably sung along to 500 Miles and Letter From America but you really have to listen to them live or invest in their fully body of work to really appreciate the songwriting talent that these guys have and the strength of their singing voices. They managed to fill the Pavilion and at the same time made it feel like a late night get together in a much smaller and more intimate venue.

If you want a night out that is guaranteed to get you singing and dancing along then this is the band to come and see. If you missed them this time round, don’t do what I did and wait 20-odd years before you go to seeing them. Do yourself a favour and do it now!