Two Glasgow friends have started a band – and it might be the only one of its kind in Scotland right now.

Kerry Burley and Rob Gallagher, who are from Garrowhill and Dennistoun respectively, claim to be the first Carpenters tribute band in the country.

Called Sing a Song: A Tribute to The Carpenters, Rob told the Glasgow Times: “We don’t know of any other Carpenters tribute in the country right now.

 “There might have been some in the past, but certainly now everyone is based down South. There is no one Scotland-based at the moment.”

(Image: Picture credit: Josh Hindle)

(Image: Picture credit: Josh Hindle)

The pals first met when doing musical theatre together eight years ago – and they have talked every day since. 

Bonding over their passion for music, Rob and Kerry realised that both had an “unironic” love for Karen and Richard Carpenter – who first propelled into the spotlight in 1969 after signing with A&M Records.

“It was the vocals and the harmonies that I loved so much about Carpenters,” Kerry explained.

She continued: “Her voice just stuck out for me because it was just so unique, and their harmonies were epic."

(Image: Picture credit: Josh Hindle)

And for Rob, the Carpenters were what got him into music in the first place. 

He said: “From a very young age I tuned into their music. My mum and dad played them around the house, and it really got me into music.

“We had a piano at home and I used to play Carpenter songs by ear on the piano. I always say they were my musical education.”

(Image: Picture credit: Josh Hindle)

Rob and Kerry played their first gig in Glasgow in July at Merchant Pride, following in the footsteps of Karen and Richard who too played in the city centre (at The Apollo) in 1974.

Prior to the Glasgow show, Rob and Kerry played at the Inverness Cathedral – which they say went extremely well.

Kerry said: “The sound was so good, I said to Rob ‘There’s no way that’s us.’

“There were actually people there, who saw Karen and Richard in the 70s, which was amazing. Someone said if he had closed his eyes, he would have thought he was back there listening to Karen and I thought, ‘Yes, we’ve cracked it.’"

Karen and Richard Carpenter (Image: Image sourced from The Herald)

The pair have a couple of shows coming up, where fans can expect two sets – the first of ballads and the second, a more upbeat collection of tunes.

Rob said: “We love to get the audience up and get them dancing and singing along to the songs.”

While Kerry added: “People can expect all the hits, as well as some more obscure songs for the real Carpenters fans.

“We like to do a lot of covers that Carpenters themselves done like One Fine Day and Only Just Begun too.”

Kerry has also begun learning the drums again to work into their sets, in homage to Karen’s famous talents of the instrument. Fun fact, Karen Carpenter once beat Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham in a ‘best drummer’ poll.

Karen Carpenter (Image: Image sourced from The Herald)

Sing a Song: A Tribute to The Carpenters will be playing at The Bully Inn in Quarter, Hamilton on August 4 and the Cumbernauld Theatre in January next year.

A few theatre dates for 2025 will be announced on the pair’s social media soon.

To keep up to date, you can find the group’s Facebook HERE