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Support floods in for Reverend and the Makers as they cancel tour to ‘grieve properly’

'I owe it to my Dad to make it as good as it can be'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 4th September 2024

Beloved northern band Reverend and the Makers have cancelled their upcoming tour, with frontman Jon McClure sharing a heartbreakingly honest statement.

The acclaimed Sheffield band were set to perform at venues across the UK in support of their seventh studio album, Heatwave In The Cold North.

Their tour in November included a final night at the Academy here in Manchester, as well as at venues in Holmfirth, Leeds and Liverpool.

But Reverend and the Makers have now sadly decided to put their live tour on hold while Jon takes time to ‘grieve properly’ following the sudden death of his father, he wrote.

The star said that he ‘tried to record an album’ while his dad was ill, but said that he was ‘distracted the whole time’ and now needs to re-record the music.

He wrote that his ‘head was in the hospital ward’.

Jon said: “I owe it to myself and to my Dad to make it as good as it can be.”

His statement then went on to say that the band are no longer able to tour in November, with Jon adding that he ‘can’t go out with no new music’.

He wrote: “I need that time to be in the studio but also to grieve properly. My heads been all over the shop to be truthful. I’m a bit done pretending otherwise.”

Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure shared this photo of his late dad. Credit: Facebook
Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure shared this photo of his late dad. Credit: Facebook

“I’m out here asking for your patience and understanding whilst I get all my ducks in a row for 2025,” he added.

Jon’s full statement on the upcoming Reverend and the Makers tour says: “Gonna try and say this as honestly as possible. My Dad got super poorly and subsequently passed away suddenly earlier this year.

“I didn’t want it to affect me. Stupidly, I tried to record an album whilst nursing him through his final days. But the truth is I was distracted the whole time. The songs are brilliant -The best I’ve ever written.

“But I wasn’t paying enough attention to how it sounded. My head was in the hospital ward.

“And so regrettably, I need to take a few months to re record a bunch of stuff. I owe it to myself and to my Dad to make it as good as it can be. All your preorders are still valid so no need to stress.

Support floods in for Reverend and the Makers as they cancel tour to 'grieve properly'. Credit: Steve Schofield
Support floods in for Reverend and the Makers as they cancel tour to ‘grieve properly’. Credit: Steve Schofield

“But i guess it does mean that I can’t tour in November now. I can’t go out with no new music. I need that time to be in the studio but also to grieve properly. My heads been all over the shop to be truthful. I’m a bit done pretending otherwise.

“I get I’ve messed everyone around a bit here but I want this record to be a masterpiece so I’m out here asking for your patience and understanding whilst I get all my ducks in a row for 2025.

“We have some incredible things in the pipeline so please stay tuned. Peace and love.”

Us here at The Manc, The Sheff and The Hoot are sending all the love to Jon and the band and will be back at the front when they are ready to tour again.

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Watch our chat with Reverend and the Makers below

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Oasis are being linked with a massive outdoor gig next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oasis rumoured for Slane Castle outdoor gig 2026

After 16 long years of waiting, Oasis are officially the biggest band on the planet again (not that they ever really stopped), and now they’re being linked with a rather big outdoor gig at the storied Slane Castle next year.

They’ve already done Knebworth, so why not tick another one off the list?

With the Live ’25 reunion tour well underway, and rumblings over what they’re going to do once this run of global comeback shows is done, Britpop fever hasn’t just had fans of the band reliving the 1990s – it’s practically taken over the music world.

There’s already plenty of talk circling – including a potential return to Knebworth – but now Oasis is pretty much the first and only name being tipped for a huge headline slot at Slane Castle, after 2026 dates were slated by the estate’s owners.

slaine castle gigs
Slane Castle hosted natives, U2, for their Go Home live concert film back in 2002. (Credit: Sara Einarsson via WikiCommons)

While Harry Styles played Ireland’s historic and equally iconic venue back in 2023, the Co Meath concerts, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley, have somewhat dried up in recent years.

Prior to the former One Direction star, the last major musicians to play there were rock and heavy metal veterans, Metallica, more than half a decade ago.

However, the new lord of the manor, Alex Conyngham, is now looking to carry on where his father, Henry Mountcharles, left off in carrying on their live music legacy; and given that another legendary rock and roll band is pretty much anyone can talk about at the minute, their name has already been put forward.

As per the Drogheda Independent writer, John Kierans, Conyngham is reported to have said: “We want to bring the shows back, we miss them. It is not just about the revenue, but keeping the name of Slane as a rock venue on the map.

“It is what Slane Castle is known for, and I don’t want that legacy to fade away. This is one of the world’s great rock and roll venues with the most natural setting. We are working on plans, and hopefully we can pull something off for next year.”

While Oasis are due to play two nights at Croke Park in Dublin later this month, there is now a strong belief/expectation that a number of 2026 dates will also be announced. But will the stars align?

The Gallaghers’ obvious Irish connection has only added further fuel to the fire, though some people believe that Liam has already let the cat out of the bag regarding a second residency at Knebworth – or rather, third, in his case.

It’s also worth mentioning that they’ve played the 1,500-acre grounds before. Twice, in fact.

The first occasion was in July 1995, supporting R.E.M just before they hit arguably the height of their own powers with the release of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? just a few months later, on 2 October.

Burnage‘s most famous sons and their bandmates go to do it all over again in 2009 (the same year they would eventually split up), with some incredible ‘warm-up acts’ in The Prodigy, Kasabian and Glasvegas.

Phwoar…

Let’s be honest, either of those artists could probably book and sell out the place these days, so god knows how much a ticket for that lineup would set you back present day.

Regardless, if there’s one band that fits the billing to bring back the Slane Castle gigs at their boldest and best, it’s the almighty Oasis.

Whether or not the heavily rumoured 2026 dates are domestic to the UK and Ireland, we’ll have to wait and see, but the clamour is already there, no matter where they sign on to perform.

If you were at Heaton Park or had the fortune of seeing any of the Live ’25 shows, you’ll know they still sound as good as ever.

Oasis are clearly doing something very deliberate for the as-yet-unconfirmed Live ’25 reunion album

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Featured Images — Sitomon (via Flickr)/Kinsie84 (via Wikimedia Commons)/Press Shots

Audio

Drake at Co-op Live, Manchester: Forget ‘One Dance’ – we had many

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Canadian hitmaker Drake graced Co-op Live in Manchester for the final night of the ‘Some Special Shows 4 UK’ tour with PartyNextDoor.

First song in and multi-hyphenate Drake is already feeling sentimental with ‘Gimme a Hug’ as he admits, “I appreciate the fans rockin’ with me / This is really just a small token.”

‘Marvin’s Room’ played out right after, and although the song prior references it as a favourite of “Durk’s boy”, this same love was shared between 23,500 fans in the crowd at Co-op Live last night. 

Shortly after, the Toronto-born rapper began the usual minute-long introduction of his gigantic single ‘Passionfruit’ with fans roaring as soon as he sang the long-awaited ‘Listen’.

Drake played out to 94,000 fans across four sold-out nights at Co-op Live in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Drake played out to 94,000 fans across four sold-out nights at Co-op Live in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Drake played out to 94,000 fans across four sold-out nights at Co-op Live in Manchester (Credit: Audio North)

Less than halfway through this stacked setlist, and it was time for the holy trinity of the night: ‘God’s Plan’, ‘In My Feelings’ and ‘Nice for What’ – nothing short of back-to-back bangers.

Fellow Canadian artist PartyNextDoor joined the self-proclaimed ‘Champagne Papi’ on stage to perform a medley of hits from their collaborative album ‘Some Sexy Songs 4 U’ next.

This R’n’B act made sure to play out his murky trap-fused number ‘No Chill’, and he squeezed in the equally melancholic melody ‘Somebody Loves Me’, too.

The pair may be promoting their joint LP but they took a second to squeeze in a throwback, matching each other’s energy while executing the 2016 collaboration ‘Come and See Me’.

Drake’s career is timeless, and the setlist proves just that as he delivers a rendition of one of his most recent successes, ‘Girls Want Girls’, followed by a track that laid the foundations of his career, ‘Fancy’.

Drake and PartyNextDoor for the 'Some Special Songs 4 UK' tour / Credit: The Manc Group
Drake and PartyNextDoor for the 'Some Special Songs 4 UK' tour / Credit: The Manc Group
Drake and PartyNextDoor for the ‘Some Special Songs 4 UK’ tour (Credit: The Manc)

Almost 30 songs deep and Drake still had fans reciting bars, verses and everything in between, and this continued as the two-time Brit award winner started 2023 anthem ‘Rich Baby Daddy’.

St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red wasn’t present for her renowned chant, but Manchester stepped up to the occasion, professing: “Hands on your knees, hands on your knees / Shake that *ss for Drake / Now shake that *ss for me”, verbatim.

It was only fair that the global rap titan finished with the setlist with two cellular-themed tracks, starting with the “You used to call me on my cell phone” number ‘Hotline Bling’ before the “Who’s callin’ my phone?” viral smash ‘Nokia’.

The setlist follows a very cyclical structure, as although Drake is known for his comical and cheeky persona on stage and online, deep down, the chart topper is very attentive.

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Ending on the ever-emotive ‘Yebba’s Heartbreak’ with lines like, “How much can I show my love for you?”, it’s safe to say this international act is feeling pretty grateful after seeing 94,000 fans show up and show out for him across four non-consecutive nights.

Drake may refer to himself as the ‘Champagne Papi’, but it’s the 23,500 fans who were popping bottles and raising a toast to the rap champ; the support for this musical act is ‘Nonstop’.

Co-op Live really is booking all the big names now.

We got to see a music legend from the best seats in the house – here’s how you can too
Might as well make the most of this incredible arena every chance we get.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Manc Group

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