The Rev is back, and he’s here for a late night phone call for Christmas! Will you accept?
Much-loved Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers released their new single “Late Night Phone Call” on 15th November to raise money for the Samaritans, and they’re hoping it’ll be the Christmas number 1! To help the cause, the band have opened a special pop-up shop in Meadowhall shopping centre for one week between 13 -19 December.
In the shop, fans can get hold of limited edition CDs of the new Christmas single, alongside the mini album ‘Is This How Happiness Feels’. Unavailable online, the mini album is packed with exclusive downloadable content including messages from the Rev himself, Jon McClure, and an exclusive demo of new track ‘Twenty-Seven Past Midnight’ from their upcoming album ‘Is This How Happiness Feels’ to be released in 2025.
Visitors to the pop-up shop can also expect a range of band merchandise, as well as signed tickets for their biggest show yet, headlining Rock N Roll Circus at Sheffield’s Don Valley Bowl on 30 August to celebrate twenty years in the business (and there will be ticket giveaways in the shop during the week). To support Jon, Rock N Roll Circus will be contributing £2 from every ticket sold
in December directly to the Samaritans.
In May 2023 Meadowhall also hosted a pop-up Reverend and the Makers store to mark the release of their seventh studio album ‘Heatwave In The Cold North’ (a UK top 10). On that occasion Jon played a number of songs live acoustically throughout the day, and was joined by an impressive roster of local musicians including Harriet Rose, Matilda Shakes, and The Rosadocs, who also played short sets.
For December, Jon has already signed up the likes of Lexi Whiteside, Dylan Ward, Maisie Brooke, Jonny Blade, and Daz Cadwallander to play in the store (with hopefully more to be added), and Jon will almost certainly be picking up his guitar again to bang out a tune or two!
“Late Night Phone Call” is a fun song with a serious message, both the single and the pop-up shop will be raising money for The Samaritans, a cause close to Jon’s heart. Since 2020, he’s hosted one-on-one Christmas Day online shows for fans spending Christmas alone. This year, the band aims to go further by raising funds and awareness for this important charity.
“Sheffield is at the heart of everything we do” says Jon, “and bringing people together for a good cause—whether it’s through music or a pop-up shop—means the world to us. Next summer’s show is going to be something special, and the fact that it can support the Samaritans makes it even better.”
“Christmas can be a tough time for a lot of people, and that’s why the Samaritans’ work is so important,” said Jon. “Every year, I try to connect with people who might be struggling by doing one-on-one Zoom calls on Christmas Day, but this year, I wanted to go further. Between the pop-up shop, the single, and our Rock N Roll Circus ticket donation, we’re trying to make a difference for a cause that matters so much. This is about raising money and awareness while also bringing people together through music and community.”
The Reverend and the Makers pop-up shop is open 9am-10pm every day, except for Sunday when it closes at 5pm. Pop on over, listen to some great music, buy a single and help a great cause. And who knows, the Rev may get to number 1! Stranger things have happened, and we all need a little magic at Christmas…
You can contact the Samaritans by phone on 116 123 (free from any phone). The Sheffield branch is based at 272 Queens Road, and they have a shop at 45 Chapel Walk. You can donate to the Sheffield branch of the Samaritans at the following link: https://justgiving.com/sheffieldsamaritans