Richard Hawley’s ‘Coles Corner’ is set to receive a 20th-anniversary reissue, supported by a series of shows around the UK. The reissue will be released on 4 July, with the accompanying tour kicking off on the following day with a show at York’s Museum Gardens.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Coles Corner we’re releasing some special editions of the album + announcing some special Anniversary Shows!
— richardhawley (@RichardHawley) March 4, 2025
Hawley made the announcement on social media, and quickly followed it up with an appearance on BBC Radio 6’s Lauren Laverne Show on 4 March. The musician revealed that he was initially reluctant to celebrate the anniversary, preferring to look forward to upcoming projects, but he acknowledged the album’s impact on his career. “That record changed everything for me, it was a game-changer. When we made that, it was the last roll of the dice.”
Named after a well-known meeting spot in Sheffield, ‘Coles Corner’ was released in 2005 and received critical acclaim. The album currently holds a score of 85 on Metacritic, and reviews have compared Hawley to a variety of 60s figures, including Scott Walker and Roy Orbison. The record earned Hawley a Mercury Prize nomination, with the award eventually going to the Arctic Monkeys, prompting frontman and fellow Sheffielder Alex Turner to say, “somebody call 999, Richard Hawley’s been robbed.”
In a rare moment of reflection, Hawley revealed the troubled circumstances that the album emerged from. “I had no record deal at all. We were with Setanta Records, who had backed me since the beginning, but that had ended. I was marooned, and at 34 years old, like most rock stars, it’s not a good time to start a career. There was no money, it was looking bleak.” A friend loaned him £10,000 to record the album, “…and I thought now is the time to make the record you’ve always wanted to make. Without any compromise. It’s sink or swim.”
The reissue will be available on both CD and vinyl, with the item listing revealing a second disc of 18 bonus tracks, including acoustic and live versions of songs from ‘Coles Corner’. Physical copies of the album are available to preorder on Hawley’s Dig! store, and fans who order before 3pm on 10 March will gain access to a presale for the tour.
Alongside the York show, Hawley has confirmed shows in Boston, Portmeirion, Blackpool, Margate, Worthing, and Weston-super-Mare. Hawley also hinted that more dates will follow, using his BBC interview to tell fans to wait before booking shows on the other side of the country. “Each gig will be unique and special… Each show will be all over the country in places off the beaten track.”
The 58-year-old is synonymous with the Steel City, often using Sheffield as a backdrop for his songs. Speaking about the role it plays in his music, he said, “If you write about things you know, you have authority by living through it. I see beauty in the very simple things of everyday life and always have.”
The announcement of the reissue and tour have been met with excitement from his devoted fanbase. One X user wrote: “What an album this is. Pre-ordered the [limited] vinyl and 2 CD edition, and tickets for York booked this morning. Already can’t wait.”
What an album this is – pre-ordered the ltd vinyl & 2cd editions & tickets for York booked this morning – already can’t wait! — JonR1973 (@jonnyroberts73) March 6, 2025
With only one appearance in his native city in the past 18 months, hopes are high that Hawley will make a stop in the South Yorkshire city on the tour. Further dates are expected to be announced following the presale. Tickets are not available for purchase yet.
