The Scotsman article from 09/01/05

THE first time Ivan Sharpe, Alan Beck and Jamie MacDougall sang ‘Flower of Scotland' at Hampden Park, the might of their combined voices blew the sound system. Happily, the tenors have since performed without incident at other prestigious events: T in the Park, the opening of the Scottish Parliament, Sydney Opera House and Edinburgh Castle. They have even sung before the UN secretary general in New York. Most memorable, though, was a 350-strong gathering of the Women's Institute in Buckie, which they admit left them "in fear of our sporrans".

Kilts (not necessarily the luminous orange variety) have become the trademark of the tenors, worn not just "to get upgrades at airports", but to establish their all-important Scottish identity. The trio, together with their musical director Michael Barnett, have been friends since music college, putting aside solo careers in opera to form Caledon in 2003.

Their non-stop camaraderie, together with renditions of such classics as ‘500 Miles', and ‘My Love Is like a Red, Red Rose', has won them the approval of everyone from the Simple Minds bassist to Jack McConnell. But can they compete with groups such as G4 or Il Diva?

They say their agenda is different. "It's about bringing fresh and contemporary arrangements of 300-year-old songs to a new audience," says MacDougall. And with 90 million people worldwide who can claim Scottish heritage, it's a big market.

Caledon: Scotland's Tenors sing at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, on January 25 and at Glasgow's Theatre Royal on February 5. Their DVD and video, On A Beautiful Scottish Evening, is out now

SALLY RAIKES