The Proclaimers

The Proclaimers are a Scottish duo formed by twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid, born in Leith, Edinburgh in 1962. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a distinctive a cappella-influenced folk-pop sound, singing in their unmistakable broad Scottish accents rather than adopting the transatlantic style common among British pop acts. Their music blends folk, country and pop-rock, drawing on Scottish traditional influences as well as American country and Motown.

The duo became globally famous for «I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)», an infectious singalong anthem that has become a wedding and football-terrace staple worldwide, alongside «Letter from America», a poignant reflection on Scottish emigration and industrial decline. Their song «Sunshine on Leith» gave its name to their acclaimed 1988 album and later to a stage musical and film built around their catalogue; it also became the unofficial anthem of Hibernian FC, the football club the brothers have long supported.

Over a career spanning ten studio albums, The Proclaimers have remained a beloved touring act, prized for their warmth, wit and unwavering commitment to Scottish identity in their music. Songs like «I'm On My Way» and «Over and Done With» showcase their knack for marrying deeply personal or political lyrics with irresistibly catchy melodies.