TWO of Scotland’s most enduring bands were making their way round the country this week, and thousands flocked to see them.
Old favourites The Proclaimers and Simple Minds showed they still have it as they took to the stage once again, and we caught them both at the AECC in Aberdeen, which was having it’s busiest run of music concerts in a long time.
The Proclaimers put in a typically crowd-pleasing set, getting the crowd singing along in no time. Several songs from their most recent album were slipped into the set but Craig and Charlie from Leith have always been ones to give the people what they want.
The strong finish of I’m on My Way, Sunshine on Leith and the ever-present 500 Miles had the whole arena singing with them, leaving the crowd to trickle out afterwards, humming away to themselves.
Just a few days later it was the turn of Jim Kerr and co as Simple Minds claimed the Aberdeen stage as their own.
Kerr was in full showman mode on Tuesday, possibly because the gig was the last night of their Big Music tour, which has been ongoing for the majority of 2015. That boost of energy led to a nearly two-hour long set, as they made the most of their curtain call.
The Glasgow band strung together a series of their greatest hits, and it is fair to say they also surpassed themselves in the support they took along with them on tour.
Punk legends The Stranglers is a very impressive coup for any band, and judging by the numbers gathered tightly at the front of the stage, as well as the Stranglers T-shirts dotted around the arena, there were plenty there to hear the likes of Golden Brown and Peaches.
The Proclaimers also managed to bring a top act along with them, the infectious country bluegrass sounds of Daniel Meade and the Flying Mules.
Both gigs involved a massive dollop of nostalgia, no doubt, but that’s not always a bad thing now is it? Great nights out, to the tune of some of Scotland’s most famous songs.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here