Craig Reid, one half of The Proclaimers, talks about life on the road ahead of their show in Preston on July 4.

FIVE hundred miles must seem like a small distance to Scottish twins The Proclaimers these days, as their life on the road is pretty much non-stop.

And with a cult following — thanks in large part to the fantastically funny 2007 Comic Relief version of 500 Miles with Peter Kay’s Brian Potter and Little Britain’s Andy — the duo are in regular demand.

So far, this year’s tour has taken the duo and their band around the UK and Europe, with a recent trip to America also under their belts.

And they’ve become regulars on festival line-ups around the country and overseas.

“The amount of festivals in Britain and other places has grown massively in the last decade,” said Craig Reid, 48.

“We were doing them before Comic Relief, but live music has peaked at the moment with the recession.

"But there are more and more places to play and more a more festivals which we have benefitted from.”

Although most people only know the Leith-born brothers, Craig and Charlie, for the hits 500 Miles and Letter from America, they have released an impressive eight studio albums.

The most recent, Notes and Rhymes, was released last year, which coincided with their busiest year on the road to date.

“We have been touring relentlessly for the last few years.

"Last year was huge. This spring and summer we are doing Europe, the UK and the US until July, then we will do some more writing for an album next year.

“In fact, it has been constant for the last decade.

“When it’s our show, we do about an hour and a half from eight records and we take from each of them — and the hits — and we try to rotate the songs, so you never hear the same set over a few nights in a row.

“We decide a couple of hours before. It keeps the audience’s attention if you have people who see you regularly.

"The majority of the audience is there for one show, but people do follow you, or go to a clutch of gigs.

“We get a cross section of people in the audiences. A small section know everything, even the B-sides.

"A large number will know a lot of the work and then another section probably just know the few cult songs.

“I think that’s how we’ve built up a live audience in 10 years.

"It has been through playing — even before the Comic Relief single it was relentless touring.

"People were coming, knowing one or two songs and getting into more of what we’ve done.”

While they may be older now, Craig said the demands of life on the road were no worse now than when they started out “You get into the rhythm, I find. It’s easier at this age than maybe at 25 or 30.

“When it’s all new, you can’t pace yourself — maybe the recovery times take longer but the actual touring is more enjoyable.

“It certainly doesn’t seem harder than 25 years ago.

“It’s probably a bit calmer than years ago. We try to do three nights on and one off — you know how much you can do to keep up the power and the voice.”

* The Proclaimers – 53 Degrees, Preston, July 4. For tickets contact the 24 ticket line 0871 220 026.