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Diary Dates
BMX Bandits – Friday 24 May
The Musician
Indie legends who split to form Teenage Fanclub. But they have been known to reform for special occasions, So, make sure you get down there because it might be a long time before another comes along!
These Wicked Rivers – Friday 31 May
O2 Academy
Hailing from Derby, These Wicked Rivers have brought old-style blues rock into the twenty first century. Collectively influenced by the likes of John Mayer, Rival Sons, Joe Bonamassa, Marcus Bonfanti, Black Stone Cherry and Royal Blood.
Tommy Scott – Friday 31 May
The Soundhouse
Tommy Scott is best known as the lead singer, principal songwriter and guitarist of the Liverpool indie band Space. Expect Space classics and his own solo material.
The Milk Men – Saturday 8 June
The Musician
The Milk Men is a band made up from the cream of British R’n’B talent and pedigree, bringing together members of legendary R’n’B band The Pirates, and British Blues Award nominated The Mustangs, The Milk Men have been tearing up venues all over the uk with their dynamic, white hot versions of classic R’n’B and blues tunes, alongside unforgettable originals.
Cavalera – Wednesday 12 June
O2 Academy
Brazilian thrash metal from members of Sepultura, Soulfly and Gojira. Featuring Max Cavalera (vocals and guitar), Igor Cavalera (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar) and Joe Duplantier (bass).
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PREVIEW: Richard Hawley returns with new album and tour dates
In the two decades that have elapsed since Richard Hawley abandoned band life full-time, first with The Longpigs and then as Pulp’s guitarist – the 57-year-old songwriter has forged one of the most singular and diverse careers in modern music.
As well as releasing a string of solo albums that have managed the rare feat of being both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, Hawley has worked with a host of impressive collaborators – friends such as Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers, Elbow and Paul Weller, alongside personal heroes that include U.S. guitarist Duane Eddy (his 2011 album, Road Trip, was co-produced by Richard), Shirley Bassey (for whom he wrote the smouldering ballad, After The Rain, in 2009), Nancy Sinatra, the late Lisa Marie Presley and British folk royalty Martin Carthy and the late Norma Waterson (he was an integral part of 2013’s Bright Phoebus Revisited tour). There are also bona fide pop stars such as Robbie Williams, All Saints and Texas, all of whom Hawley has played with in differing capacities down the years. His song Tonight The Streets Are Ours was featured in The Simpsons and Exit Through The Gift Shop: A Banksy Film.
In recent times his songs have appeared in television dramas Peaky Blinders, The Full Monty and Hijack, as well as the hugely acclaimed and award-winning musical named after his 2012 album,Standing At The Sky’s Edge. Dear Alien (Who Art in Heaven)‘, co-written with Jarvis Cocker and Wes Anderson for Anderson’s film, Asteroid City, was recently shortlisted for ‘Best Original Song’ at this year’s Oscars®.
Hawley’s newest album is due out on 31 May. In This City They Call You Love, will feature 12 outstanding songs, which are amongst some of the finest ballads Hawley has ever written and recorded. Sumptuous melodies and arrangements are accompanied by Hawley’s emotive and sonorous voice, which sounds better than ever, on an album that further confirms his place as one of the finest songwriters of his generation, in a hugely successful recording career approaching 25 years.
The album’s title is taken from the song ‘People’, which might well be the greatest song Hawley has written about his beloved Sheffield, the city’s proud industrial past and the enduring determination of its citizens.
“I’ve made three albums where I had the title before I’d even begun to record, where I had an agenda. One was Truelove’s Gutter. Another was Standing At The Sky’s Edge when I wanted to turn everything up and make the music a lot more aggressive, and then this one. I wanted it to be multi-coloured in a way… focusing on the voice and what voices can do together… I deliberately only played a handful of guitar solos to keep it focused on voices, the song and space…” – Richard Hawley.
Richard Hawley is at De Montfort Hall on Wednesday 5 June. Tickets are on sale HERE.
PLAYLIST
In this week’s playlist you can take a journey through Richard Hawley’s back catalogue of hits and releases, ahead of his performance in Leicester on 5 June.
