A MUSSELBURGH singer/songwriter will play a special pre-match set ahead of Scotland’s first Autumn Nations Series rugby game against Tonga this Saturday.

Callum Beattie has had a sold-out Scottish tour and is supporting fellow Scottish musician Amy Macdonald on her UK tour, including a show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow in December.

Callum’s debut album People Like Us reached No. 1 in The Official Scottish Album Chart and No. 7 in The Official UK Album Sales Charts last year.

He told the Courier: “I’ve spent such a large chunk of my life playing music and it feels now like all the hard work is actually starting to pay off.

“I actually am pinching myself – I’ve just come off a UK tour with the amazing Amy Macdonald where my band and I played to full houses every night. Then I am opening for her at The Hydro on December 17. That will also be sold out, which is 14,500 people. It still doesn’t feel real.”

He said: “But then I think about all the hard graft in pubs that I’ve had to do in order to get here; it’s been quite a journey and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Callum still returns to Musselburgh to visit family members, adding: “I’ve always lived a bit of a nomadic lifestyle. I absolutely love travelling and like to get to as many places as possible.

“I tend to split my time between Budapest and the UK. I just love experiencing new places and all their cultures.

“I was in Estonia last week and absolutely loved it.”

Asked if he knew what he would perform at Murrayfield, he said: “I do but I’ve been sworn to secrecy! To play to a physical audience of 60,000 is going to be awesome.

“I can’t wait.”