Richard Hawley @ Queens Hall

There's a multitude of factoids about Richard Hawley's session work for other artists, his work with the Longpigs, or stories about his drug-addled spell with Pulp, that we could talk about. But with three good-to-great solo albums under his belt, Sheffield crooner Hawley now deserves attention for his own achievements as a songwriter. His peak so far, 2005's Cole's Corner, was nominated for the Mercury prize the following year, only to lose to some local lads half his age. Like the Monkeys' output, Cole's Corner was stylistically retro and described everyday pleasures, but Hawley recalls Elvis and Scott Walker, and sings love stories imbued with enough warmth and charm to seduce a snake. Richard Hawley could play the SECC and it would still feel intimate – so this gig at Queens Hall should be special, and it's preceded by a new album, called Lady's Bridge, in late August. [Ally Brown]