Reverend's followers halt traffic as singer does outdoor encore

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 08:51

IT WAS a nightclub gig that suddenly and unexpectedly turned into an open-air concert – much to the annoyance of motorists on Lothian Road.

Fans of indie band Reverend and the Makers might have expected an encore as they finished their set at the HMV Picturehouse – but they certainly didn't expect it to take place on a street corner.

Instead of disappearing backstage, singer John McClure grabbed an acoustic guitar and invited the crowd to help him take the gig "to the streets". Jumping off the stage, "the Reverend" walked through the stunned audience and – after leaping a railing and dodging a few passing cars – lead them to Festival Square.

Hundreds of fans gathered to watch him perform on a platform outside Standard Life, at the corner of the West Approach Road, as the crowd spilled over on to Lothian Road.

Motorists who were forced to a halt called police to report a disturbance on Friday night.

Leona Sutherland, 27, a videographer from Whitburn, West Lothian, and her fianc Bobby Murray, were among those who heard McClure run through some of the band's hits.

She said: "It was quite surreal. After the encore was finished he just picked up his guitar and headed for the exit through the crowd.

"The crowd just followed him, squeezing through the door. There was a total state of confusion.

"People were everywhere. Cars had to stop on that side of the road because they couldn't get past as people were all over it.

"It was brilliant. He was protesting against politicians, wars and the big banks that surrounded him."

Sheffield-born McClure performed for about ten minutes before the police arrived and asked him to move on.

John Stout, general manager of the HMV Picturehouse, said he had heard the band had performed impromptu outdoor shows before, but never expected it to happen in Edinburgh.

"I think he just wanted to keep on playing," he said.

"It was a very spontaneous, light-hearted gesture to the fans, and they flooded out after him.

"There would have been the same number of people coming out the venue at that point anyway, as the gig was finished, but because McClure was playing a lot more people than normal were trying to get across the street.

"He was very polite and cooperative with the police."

A police spokesperson said: "Police were called just after 10.30pm on Friday night following reports of an impromptu performance on Lothian Road.