Richard Hawley at York Barbican

RICHARD Hawley includes York Barbican in a string of dates at York Barbican, on Friday, February 19, in support of his latest release, Hollow Meadows, which was released via Parlophone Records at the end of last year. Recorded at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studio, Hawley has returned to the classic, sophisticated songwriting and subtle arrangements that made him so widely loved and revered in the first place. There are traits of early albums such as Late Night Final and Lowedges, as well as touches of 2009’s Truelove’s Gutter and Standing At The Sky’s Edge.

For the first time ever, Hawley demoed the songs in his shed studio (Disgracelands) with his long-time guitarist and confidant, Shez Sheridan – who also co-produced the album with Hawley and Colin Elliot.

The album features some notable guests from the UK folk scene, Hawley’s neighbour and friend Martin Simpson, and Nancy Kerr. Other guests include one of Hawley’s oldest and dearest friends, Jarvis Cocker, and the Hick Street Chip Shop Singers, who are made up of various Sheffield luminaires, including Slow Club’s Rebecca Taylor.

Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. After that group broke up in 2000, he joined Pulp, led by Jarvis Cocker, for a short time. As a solo musician, Hawley has released seven studio albums and been nominated for a Mercury prize twice and a Brit Award

* Tickets are £28. Book at yorkbarbican.co.uk or 0844-854-2757 or visit the box office in person.

Viv Hardwick