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IN THE PARK : 2003 MAIN STAGE : SATURDAY 12th July : 3.50pm Balado, Near Kinross, Scotland |
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PRESS THE PROCLAIMERS - T IN THE PARK 2003 Festival promoter Geoff Ellis said this year's event had been memorable from the start. He said "From the opening of the stages at midday on Saturday we have seen some of the best performances in the history of the festival. The first highlight for me and the majority of the audience was The Proclaimers on the main stage who were absolutely brilliant and pulled in a crowd as big as any headliner and whipped fans into a real party mood. We knew they would go down brilliantly but when the opening bars of 500 Miles sounded out I've never see a T in the Park crowd so excited. They must have had close to 40,000 people singing along with them. Everyone just loves them." THE DAILY EXPRESS, THE DAILY MAIL, THE SUN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Craig and Charlie Reid found themselves preaching to the converted yesterday - not only that but they seemed to be making it their aim to wrestle Travis for their classic festival moment mantle with a rendition of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ that couldn’t have fitted the occasion better. Their beetroot faces were gleaming in the sunshine but the crowd took little warming. Drummer Jason Kingston rose to the main stage occasion alongside the brothers Reid in a white collared suit that even Elvis would have been proud of. Little rock ’n’ roll garb is needed with the Proclaimers however, as the dress down approach fits the bill. Melancholy heartbreaker ‘Sean’ was teased out on acoustic guitar causing more than a few grown men to quiver. The rabble rousers of ‘Letter from America’, ‘Let’s Get Married’ and ‘Five Hundred Miles’ took care of themselves. Not surprising then, in the year that two of the world’s biggest bands came to Balado for T in the Park, that it was the two lads from down the road that satisfied the hungry crowd. SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Lips' finale, rendered in traditional yeti suits, was worth the spectacle alone - which was perhaps as well, since the Buckfast-scented breeze across Balado airfield was want to catch the chords and create a disconcerting flanger effect. This wasn't something that could detract from The Proclaimers' set. There they were, Auchtermuchty's finest sons, Craig and Charlie Reid, their bespectacled faces beamed over the crowd like a huge ad for Specsavers, two for the price of one. Sunshine on Leith, as one might expect, went down a storm. But the clincher was a rabble-rousin' rendition of Letter From America, sung with a backing of 60,000 sun-burned coupons in the twins' biggest ever karaoke moment. THE HERALD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And it was a case of sunshine on Balado when local boys, The Proclaimers stole the show yesterday afternoon. The brothers got a rousing reception when they took to the main stage to belt out classic hits like letter from America, Sunshine On Leith and the ever-popular I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles. One young fan who was extremely excited to see them was Samantha Gardiner. The five-year-old was dressed in a fairy suit and was possibly the youngest fan at the festival as under- fives are not allowed. Mum Lizzie Steven, from Glenrothes, said, “Samantha loves the Proclaimers. Shrek’s her favourite film and she loves their song I’m On My Way, which features in the film.” Another huge Proclaimers fan was Willie Griffin, from Dundee, who had his head shaved and coloured with the T In the Park logo. He beamed, “I’m a Proclaimers maniac and I love T in the Park. I’ve been to last six and I’m never going to miss another one. Once the kids are old enough I’ll bring them too.” THE SUNDAY POST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There was plenty to remember from Saturday but the best performances came from REM, The Flaming Lips, rising stars kings Of Leon, and home-grown favourites The Proclaimers, who had the whole of the main field on their feet and singing every word in late-afternoon. Ironically the sun actually dipped behind the clouds just as The Proclaimers reached the chorus of Sunshine On Leith but that didn't discourage them or the crowds one bit. By the time they played Letter from America and 500 Miles, thousands of voices were drowning out those coming from the stage. "That was really inspiring for us seeing all those people having such an amazing time and all of them singing along," said Proclaimer Craig Reid, while brother Charlie rated it an even better show than their legendary T performance two years ago. "Back then we were in the tent and it was madness but this was less and I think we played a better set," said Charlie. "But it's just fantastic to play here and the view looking out on that crowd before the main stage bathed in sunshine was just fantastic." THE COURIER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Earlier The Proclaimers were given a rousing reception on the main stage. Twins Craig and Charlie Reid performed their classic tracks Sunshine On Leith and Letter From America but their biggest cheer came as the cult favourites launched into their anthem I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles0, as a sea of Saltires and t-shirted bodies bounced along to the chorus. THE SUNDAY HERALD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sensationally stealing the main stage Saturday show were The Proclaimers who, as ever delivered a polished class act with their loveable style. And, of course, the crowd went crazy when the brothers played Scotland's unofficial anthem, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles). 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