Thanks to the gigs played here at the start of their career, they're more than honorary Invernessians.

Some of that is down to their first manager who came from the city, the late Kai Davidson.

Some of it is down to the people behind the Market Bar and the Proclaimer-friendly Faultline Festival – two generations of them gathered in front of the tent to enjoy the show on Sunday night.

But The Proclaimers have a special place in the hearts of most Scots.

They sing songs about us.

They're never afraid to write about the things that are right – and wrong – with our lives and our country. There's humour and sadness, joy – and a good understanding of what makes the perfect singalong.

But they've also mastered the art of writing songs that tell it like it is without any need for a parent advisory warning – they still have one of the most family-oriented crowds going.

Sunday's crowd went from youngsters – who could still have been toddlers – on shoulders to white-haired couples, swinging their hips, raising their arms in the air and singing the lyrics to each other with broad smiles.

Everybody loves The Proclaimers.

And – even after the 129-date tour – the twins have just completed, they still seem to love their crowd too.

A Proclaimers gig finds the twins reading out messages and dedications to fans and friends – birthdays, a tribute to Kai and a name check before Let's Get Married for a man who was going to ask "a question". The BIG question, presumably.

And The Proclaimers are important and dear enough to make one of their gigs a worthy place for that proposal.

The Proclaimers round off the Inverness Highland Games with a singalong gig. Alasdair Allen

The support acts went out of their way to get us in the mood for a special night.

This R 2Tone took ska classics such as Rock Steady and A Message To You Rudi, and gave them the full treatment. The arrival of former Bodysnatcher and Special AKA singer Rhoda Dakar added some focus to the nine-piece Edinburgh line-up's sound, her best number Horace Andy's reggae hit No, No, No.

The Dykeenies did their best to gee up the crowd with their bouncy rock winners – Boys Will Be Boys When It Comes To Girls and Clean Up Your Eyes, just two. Even the sound crew working to get the stage organised for the main event, played music to get us in the mood, such as R.E.S.P.E.C.T and Lulu's Shout!, occasionally switching down the sound so the crowd could hear itself singing the words in fine voice.

Though Life With You provided the twins' opening numbers New Religion and In Recognition, it was quickly on to Restless Soul, the album dedicated to former manager Kai. But it took supersingalong I'm On My Way to get the crowd jigging and roaring, and so it proved for the whole almost-two hour set – Let's Get Married, finisher I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) and encore cover King Of The Road, to find the spirit at its best. Other treats included Wreckless Eric guesting for cover The Whole Wide World, Charlie's song Shaun, and ex's anthem What Makes You Cry?. Cap In Hand questioned Scottish rule, but the Reids are far too inclusive to incite nationalism – and Scotland's Story with its reminder that we all come from everywhere, is as apt a reminder as you could have that the Reids are as warm as they are wise.

Earlier in the day, Inverness Highland Games had laid on a couple of local bands to bridge the gap between the field action and The Proclaimers' event.

First up, Lowtide Revelry filled up their end of the licensed bar tent with a crowd keen to drink in the drama now guaranteed by the band's theatrical songs and talented, stage-filling line-up.

Michelle Davidson shares lead vocals along with Steve Obern, and the combination works better every time they play. And even in the unforgiving brightness of an afternoon set, the line-up – best seen where a night-time, dramatically lit stage sets off the darkness at the heart of songs such as Devil's Worth and Letter From The Gallows – kept their crowd agog.

Next up, Jyrojets welcomed stand-in guitarist, 28 Jacks' frontman Jake Bolt. And as a big fan of the band, he looked in his element. Everything from favourites Hollywood Hold On and All The Rage to new favourites, Bound To Burn, Rock Singer and a rampaging version of The Libertines' Time For Heroes, kept their dancing, bouncing fans happy – till the set was cut abruptly short before the end.

m.chrystall@highland-news.co.uk

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