The Proclaimers 'You May Offend' Tour

Nearly four decades after they first arrived as The Proclaimers, Craig and Charlie Reid are still doing things entirely on their own terms. They are in the midst of their 2026 tour, celebrating thirteenth studio album ‘You May Offend’. The tour landed at Cambridge Corn Exchange last night for an evening that proved just how much there still is to say. With a back catalogue that has become woven into the fabric of British life, it would have been easy for The Proclaimers to coast on the hits, but the quality of new music on display proved they had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

The choice of opening track reinforced this, kicking this off with 'Knock It Down’ is the first song on the new record. That approach held all night, with new songs like ‘But It Is’ and the title track ‘You May Offend’ sitting naturally alongside material from across their career, with the way the room responded to every passing song acting as a real testament to the longevity of the duo. Those unmistakable harmonies between the brothers, delivered in a way that has never been sanded down, sat right at the heart of everything. Around them, the four-piece live band were a real highlight, giving the songs a rockier edge and a fullness that lifted each one to new heights. The arrangements borrowed freely from a genre-spanning range of folk, punk and rock, resulting in a sound that felt richer and more alive than ever.

There was very little chat between songs, with the brothers happy to let the music do the talking, bar a few heartfelt dedications to fans in the crowd. There was no elaborate stage production either, just a simple blac backdrop donning the band's name and engaging light design. There was no attempt to dress up what they do or hide behind any shiny productions, instead they took unpretentious approach made the whole evening feel honest and unforced, really allowing these timeless songs to stand centre stage.

Like many seated venues, the Corn Exchange took a little while to find its feet, but this was an audience fully invested from the start, clapping and swaying along as the set unfolded. That energy built steadily, finding a new gear when ‘Letter From America’ hit, with those in attendance rising from their seat to dance along. This was startingly contrasted very quickly after with the moment from the night I will remember longest. ‘Sunshine on Leith’ is nominally a love song, but over the years it has become something much bigger, a song about home and belonging that has been adopted by football supporters and sung at weddings and funerals alike. You could have heard a pin drop as the Corn Exchange took it in, the beauty of the song hitting every person in attendance in their own unique way. It is such a rare ability to create something deeply personal that also brings an entire room together, but there is no doubt this is a song that can effortlessly do that. A Proclaimers gig is worth it for that lone, but they still had a whole string of hits in their arsenal, with the crowd not staying still for long.

From ‘Then I Met You’ onwards, not a single person in the building was sitting down, with many spilling out into the aisles to really dance along like these songs deserved. ‘I’m on My Way’ and the colossal ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ turned the Corn Exchange into one enormous singalong, with the encore kept the dancing going until the final note of 'The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues', a communal release that perfectly capt a night of folk-punk brilliance. It is rare to see a band sound this anthemic on stage, let alone one fourty years into their careers. Craig and Charlie Reid have nothing left to prove musically, yet they still deliver a set that felt alive with a fire behind it.