Richard Hawley surprised festival-goers in Sheffield on Sunday, July 26, by joining Reverend And The Makers on stage during their set at Tramlines Festival. The musician stepped out on the Sarah Nulty Main Stage at Hillsborough Park to assist frontman Jon McClure and the band on their final song of the evening, “Silence Is Talking.”
The surprise collaboration served as the grand finale for the Sheffield group’s festival appearance. Frontman Jon McClure led the performance through a setlist that featured tracks such as “Bassline,” “Open Your Window,” “Haircut,” “Heavyweight Champion of the World,” “Shine the Light,” “Heatwave in the Cold North,” “Out of the Shadows,” “He Said He Loved Me,” and concluded with the Hawley-assisted rendition of “Silence Is Talking.”
Footage shared by attendees on social media captured the moment as Hawley joined the band. One fan posted on X, writing, “Nowt more Sheffield than watching Reverend and the Makers bring out Richard Hawley for their last song at Tramlines.”
Nowt more Sheffield than watching Reverend and the Makers bring out Richard Hawley for their last song at Tramlines pic.twitter.com/L5MqWZTuo4
— Stephie (@veallbagsetlist) July 26, 2026
The collaboration brought together Richard Hawley and Reverend And The Makers, fronted by McClure.
An Emotional Family Tribute at Hillsborough Park
Before closing out the festival appearance, McClure took a moment to address the Hillsborough Park crowd with a personal tribute to his late father and his family roots in Sheffield.
“My name is Jon McClure. The son of the late John McClure Snr., who used to always come to Tramlines, we used to stand down there,” McClure told the audience, gesturing toward the festival grounds.
The singer also pointed to the side of the stage where his mother and brother were standing to watch the performance. Following the set, McClure took to Instagram to share his appreciation for the moment with his relatives and local supporters.
“What a special moment. All the family together. Thankyou to everyone saying nice things in the comments and mentions. We see them,” McClure wrote online, while also offering a specific shoutout to his “Sheffield brothers” Richard Hawley and K Dot for joining the performance.
Recent Releases and Upcoming Projects
The Tramlines appearance arrives as Reverend And The Makers continue to tour behind their eighth studio album, Is This How Happiness Feels?. The record follows their top 10 album, Heatwave In The Cold North, continuing a creative run that merges life-affirming soul elements with contemporary lyrical storytelling.
Speaking about the creative process behind their latest musical chapter, McClure described the record as a labor of love shaped by personal experiences. Beyond his musical endeavors, McClure expanded his local footprint last month when he was announced as the new club chairman of Sheffield FC.
Fans hoping to catch Reverend And The Makers live or looking for official festival announcements can check updates through the band’s official social media channels and upcoming tour listings.
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