Callum Beattie shines bright on road to PJ's and stardom

Callum Beattie encountered that poser as a fresh-faced 16-year-old as his dad pondered over their next holiday destination.

While the blue skies and seas of Tenerife were an alluring prospect, the youngster who had grown up fixated with his dad’s collection of records was only ever going to jump in the car at the earliest opportunity.

“We didn’t have a lot of money at the time,” Callum told Press:ON.

“He said to me that we could either go to Tenerife and camp, or drive down to the south of England and hit as many gigs as we could on the way back up during the week.

“We basically slept in the car and saved our money so we could get half-decent gig tickets. We ended up at Hyde Park and seeing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Derby and back up here for T in the Park.

“That was a massive experience. It was at that point I decided I wanted to be on those stages in front of thousands of people.

“I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my days. I made it my life challenge to be successful at it.

“My dad raised me from the age of eight or nine with all these amazing records by Rod Stewart and Elton John and all these other great names.

“However, I did scratch three of his records which he wasn’t happy about!

“Look at me now though! I’m still scratching away looking to make things happen!”

Fresh off playing to a Brighton crowd of 300 – a stark contrast to the 15 who turned out the previous year for him – he rattles off his packed schedule of dates for his first headline tour, which rolls into PJ Molloys this Saturday.

Wary of jumping the gun on an official announcement at the time of the call, he said he was also set to play "the biggest festival in Britain".

The acoustic stage at Glastonbury will host his guitar and vocals on Sunday, June 25, a feat he is struggling to comprehend.

“It’s unbelievable. When you’re on stage and you see that the crowd know your songs word for word, it’s the most bizarre experience.”

The Glastonbury stage is a far cry from the "grotty wee pubs" he told white lies to perform in as he found his feet.

“I’ve dreamt of this for years. I was sick of waiting for things to happen for me so I decided to take my guitar around Europe and messaged as many bars as I could; I often lied and said I had spoken with the manager to get gigs.

“To a degree, I do miss those days. It gave me a lot of experience and helped me grow as an artist. 

“I’ll always be grateful to the people who came and saw me in those little bars and pubs and the managers for letting me play them.”

Prior to playing in those venues and pushing his emerging material, he was pushing trollies in Tesco, with lyrics formulating in his head before they were hurriedly written on till receipts.

Fast forward circa 10 years; his debut single, We Are Stars, rapidly surpassed a million streams on Spotify and his debut album, ‘Lights in Stereo’, is set for release later this year.

His lyrics are passionate, raw and are delivered in a tone above his years.

Working with Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Paolo Nutini), Lights in Stereo should be out by September and the Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter is delighted with the final outcome.

“I didn’t want it to sound overly-produced as I wanted the songs to do the talking. For me, this was a record I wanted to be listenable in 30 years that I steel feel would be authentic.

“We recorded it last year, and although we’re still recording bits here and there, it’s pretty much all done.

“I’m still writing every day so if I come out with a banger, that’ll be going straight on the album!”

At the age of 27, he reflects fondly on his school days as a troublemaker pulling fire alarms and causing mischief, while also pausing to recount his initial steps as a musician after his dad bought him his first guitar.

“My first song was called Drowning in the Air. That was an absolute belter,” he laughs.

“I had a band at the time who were really into bands like Slipknot so when I walk in with this cheesy little pop song their faces really said it all! I had always wanted to be part of a band. 

“I just couldn’t find five guys who had the same commitment, drive and belief as I had. I ended up finding myself as a solo artist and it is harder, as the workload is amplified.

“The success is up to me this way though, as I’m not relying on other people.

“Even though I’ve been working for years, I’m still a new artist only properly launching this year.

“I keep having to check Spotify to make sure the success of the single is real!”

The success is real, and if emotive tracks such as Some Heroes are a preview of what is to come, those touting Callum for stardom may not be far off the mark.

The song pays tribute to his father, with his words inked into his own arm – despite his father’s stance on tattoos.

“I was in Brighton and I fancied a wee tattoo.

“My dad hasn’t seen it yet,” he breaks into an imitation of his voice.

“'You should never get tattoos, son! It’s vandalism of your body!’

“As long as I don’t get any on my forehead I think I’ll be alright!”

While his dad’s advice on tattoos may have fallen on deaf ears, Callum has supported a plethora of the UK’s finest exports.

He has shared stages with James Arthur, James Blunt and KT Tunstall and has picked up resonating quirks from all three.

Speaking of KT Tunstall, he said: “I learned more from simply watching her rather than anything she told me.

“It’s the slightest, daftest wee things I remember, too; the press photographer would take some stage shots and she would check them to make sure there was a good one to use!

“I also got invited to play with James Blunt. I travelled alone down to London so I knocked on his dressing room door.

“We sat there talking for around five hours and he paid for my taxi back across London to my hotel. He was a real gent.

“We talked a load of nonsense!

“If I told you the truth it wouldn’t be going in the paper!”

Tickets for Saturday’s gig cost £9 via www.ticketweb.co.uk

Support is provided by Dunfermline singer-songwriter Conall Adam and the Scott Gilbert Band and doors open at 7pm.