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Hold Back The Night: Twenty Years of Richard Hawley’s Coles Corner

Dave, Steel City Snapper

Photography by Steel City Snapper
Photography by Steel City Snapper

“I’m going down town where there’s music, I’m going where voices fill the air. Maybe there’s someone waiting for me, with a smile and a flower in her hair…”

 

This autumn marks the 20th anniversary of Coles Corner, the fourth studio album from Sheffield artist Richard Hawley, which was released on 5 September 2005. To celebrate the anniversary, Hawley is collecting stories about how people first met their loved one!

 

Coles Corner followed Hawley’s eponymous debut mini-album released in early 2001, Late Night Final released later in 2001, and Lowedges released in 2003. Originally launched with an intimate instore gig at Fopp in Hawley’s hometown of Sheffield, Coles Corner became his first UK Top 40 album. It was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize for best album, but memorably lost out to Arctic Monkeys’ debut album Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not, famously leading Hawley’s friend Alex Turner to quip, on stage as they collected the award, “someone call 999, Richard Hawley’s been robbed!”

 

Most Sheffielders of a certain age will know that "Coles Corner" was named after a location in the city centre (the bottom of Fargate, opposite the Cathedral), which became famous as a meeting place, both for first-dates and also long-term lovers. Full of hope, nostalgia, and romance, Coles Corner proved to be a fitting name for Hawley’s record, a collection of warm love songs and beautiful indulgent strings (exemplified on the album’s first single ‘The Ocean’). The album’s title-track has become a much-loved mainstay of Hawley’s live gigs over the years, and during his 2024 tour he would pause midway through the song to triumphantly raise a “Welcome To Sheffield” sign in the air, usually to much applause.

 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Coles Corner, Hawley is looking for real-life love stories from his hometown of Sheffield, and beyond. Did you meet at Coles Corner? Or maybe the Hole in the Road? Maybe you enjoyed a cosy walk in the Peak District, or perhaps a trip to the seaside? Did you work alongside each other, or meet through friends? Maybe your eyes met across the Leadmill dancefloor…

 

If you would like to participate, then send the story of how you first met your loved one from anywhere in the world to the email address below. A few paragraphs or just a couple of lines is fine – it can be handwritten and sent in as a photo or typed in an email. Richard looks forward to reading all of your stories!

 

To take part, or for more information, email Richard’s team at colescornerstories@gmail.com.


Please note: by submitting, you understand and agree that your story and names (initials or pseudonyms are fine too) may be published in various ways (online and in print) in the future without your further agreement.

 

“What are you like? You've had a right life. And taken a long ride, but oh what a cost…” (‘Born Under A Bad Sign’).

 

Since releasing Coles Corner in 2005, Hawley has released a further six studio albums (all but one charting in the UK Top 10), three live albums, and a best-of collection. He’s collaborated with the likes of Nancy Sinatra, Lisa Marie Presley, Tony Christie, Arctic Monkeys, Jarvis Cocker, Manic Street Preachers, and Elbow.

 

In 2008, Hawley was nominated for the BRIT Award for Best British Male Performer. He was nominated for a second Mercury Prize in 2012 for Standing At The Sky’s Edge, the album that inspired a smash-hit West End musical and earned Hawley a prestigious Olivier Award in 2023. He’s come a long way in the last two decades, and long may that continue.

 

“Hold back the night from us. Cherish the light for us. Don't let the shadows hold back the dawn” (‘Coles Corner’).

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