Reverend and The Makers

Where: Ironworks, 122b Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX, Inverness

When: Thursday 04 March 2010

Doors: 19:30 Ticket Price: £12.00 Fronted by Jon McClure, aka The Reverend, Reverend and the Makers were collected together in 2005 consisting of The Reverend, co-songwriter Ed Cosens on bass, Tom Rowley (formerly of Milburn) and Tom Jarvis on guitars, Joe Moskow on keyboards, Richy Westely on drums, Laura Manuel on vocals and occasionally they are joined by Simon Stafford on trombone. Reverend and the Makers' music is a mix of indie guitar pop, electronica and a touch of Madchester-esque funk whilst Reverend's down-to-earth, cynical and observant outlook on modern-day life are captured in verses and delivered in a Yorkshire accent. Some of the internet demos feature members of other notable Sheffield bands such as Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Tim Hampton (Bromheads Jacket) and Mike Hughes (Little Ze). One of Reverend's inspirations is Manchester performance poet John Cooper Clarke and Reverend often performs his own poems, of a similar style, in between songs during his live sets. One of the B-sides to the debut single "Heavyweight Champion of the World" is a poem entitled "Last Resort" in which John Cooper Clarke and McClure read alternate stanzas. This poem was also duetted live when the band played live at Shoreditch's Spread Eagle in the first tour in May 2006. In April 2006, Reverend and the Makers were support to the Arctic Monkeys on their sell-out UK tour, exposing the band to larger audiences and bigger venues. This was followed by their own first UK tour in May and June, selling-out dates in Shoreditch, London and The Plug in home-town Sheffield on the final night. A second tour followed in October 2006, showing great progression as a band. The sound was much tighter and far more advanced than on their previous tour. Jarvis had given a lot more strength to the guitar element and was certainly a catalyst in the progression of the band. Reverend and the Makers undertook nationwide tour and date for their first release. The tour included dates in Wakefield, Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham, Bristol, London, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Leicester, Sheffield, Hull, Manchester, Newcastle, Barnsley and a second date in London respectively. The band are also set to play more dates in July and many festivals over the summer period including Glastonbury Festival, Carling Weekend, T in the Park and T4 on the Beach as well as supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hampden Park. Now with 2 top 20 albums under their belt, The State of Things (2007) and A French Kiss in the Chaos (2009), and this summer's supports for Oasis' Wembley gigs this summer as well as appearances at T in the Park, Oxygen and Glastonbury Reverend and The Makers are set for next year's appearance at The Ironworks. Don't miss it!