Richard Hawley joined by Arctic Monkeys star at gig

By Rodrigo Davies
6 Music News reporter

Arctic Monkeys are currently on a UK arena tour

Richard Hawley teamed up with Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner at a gig on Thursday that affirmed Yorkshire's status as an incubator for songsmiths.

Hawley and Turner, both from Sheffield, performed a cover of Arctics' track The Only Ones Who Know during the former's headline set at London's Union Chapel.

Turner surprised the audience at the Little Noise Sessions by singing two unnamed songs.

Leeds-raised Corinne Bailey Rae also unveiled new material at the event.

The 30-year-old played the title track from her forthcoming album The Sea, as well as another song - Do It All Again - that recalls the tragic death of her husband Jason last year.

Confidence

Turner seemed a touch tentative as he performed a stripped-down version of Fluorescent Adolescent, from the Arctics' second album.

But he appeared much more at ease when joined by bandmate Jamie Cook on Secret Door and Cornerstone.

The two tracks from the band's latest album Humbug exuded confidence in an acoustic setting, perhaps even more so than in the studio and recent live appearances.

I know him enough to know that he's a solid kid, a gentle bloke, and funny Richard Hawley on Alex Turner

Hawley, meanwhile, turned his hand not only to tracks from his three most recent albums, but also covers of the Elvis Presley track Crawfish and, curiously, Hushabye Mountain from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Dexterous as ever both lyrically and musically, Hawley moulded the track to his characteristic croon and it sat surprisingly easily within his set.

Perhaps the most tantalising prospect of the evening was Hawley's suggestion that he and Turner might work together again.

He told BBC 6 Music: "Well, we are gonna, you know... I really want, um... I'm not saying. No, I'm not! I'll get shot."

'Little monkeys'

For a few years there has been a history of respect between Hawley and Arctic Monkeys.

Upon scooping the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, Turner joked that fellow nominee Hawley had been "robbed".

Hawley sang a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang track as part of his set

NME magazine, meanwhile, recently revealed when compiling their 50 Albums of the Decade list that Turner had voted for Hawley.

"We're not best mates but I know him enough to know that he's a solid kid, a gentle bloke, and funny," said Hawley of Turner on Thursday.

"I enjoy his company. They're all top lads, little monkeys."

Ahead of the show, Hawley revealed he did not have to go through usual formalities to get the Arctics on board.

"I went to see them when they were in Sheffield the other day and said, 'Fancy getting up with us?'

"He said, 'Yeah'. It's not complicated. We don't need to do managers and 'your people talk to my people' and all that nonsense. It's just mates."