Richard Dawson at The Stoller Hall

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Book now

Rich(ard) Dawson

The Stoller Hall, Manchester
23 April 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Image of Rich(ard) Dawson
Rich(ard) Dawson
Book now

Experimental folk artist Richard Dawson is no stranger to big musical ideas – from opening his 2022 album with a 41-minute odyssey to writing from the perspective of a seed in collaboration with the Finnish experimental rock band Circle. But his new work hits different, stripping things down to the bare bones to reveal the songwriting at its core.

And that’s no daft move when you can write a tune as well as Richard Dawson. Indeed The Guardian declared him no less than “Britain’s best songwriter”. That was in reference to his state-of-the-nation album 2020, which saw the Newcastle artist, then known for gnarled experimental folk, add hooky pop elements into the mix as he spun crushing stories of a benighted Britain.

The pop alure didn’t last long, though. 2022’s The Ruby Cord opened with a gargantuan, 41-minute track, ‘The Hermit’, preceding an album billowing with a fog of sickness, trauma and mute inevitability as he envisioned a distant future dominated by virtual realities. Following his most successful and accessible album (2020) in this manner felt like a statement of intent: Richard Dawson just does what he feels like. And you’ve got to respect that.

So what’s the vision for the new album, End of the Middle, which drops 14 February?

“I wanted this album to be small-scale and very domestic,” he explains. “To be stripped back, reconnect with the basics and let everything speak for itself – to be really stark and naked by just putting the words and melodies out there.” With no big arrangements or lavish productions to hide behind, and with every tiny detail emphasised, you have Dawson at his most exposed, and a platform for his tunes to really shine.

The album deals with small-scale domesticity, bringing the everyday banalities of the family home to life in rich detail, while – and this is one of Dawson’s real skills – extracting a great deal of poignancy and emotional punch within these confined stories. “Even when there isn’t much room for a character to speak you still must go all the way with them”, Dawson says.

We’ve heard two singles so far. ‘Polytunnel’ warmly depicts a gardener engaged in the noble, calming, mysterious business of raising vegetables whilst dealing with illness. ‘Boxing Day Sales’ is a wonky pop number that contains anti-capitalist depth despite its seemingly shallow waters. Dawsons describes it as “like a pair of novelty socks, some Lynx Africa, or a daft plastic puzzle you get on Christmas morning and then chuck in a drawer for the next 10 years. I wanted it to be the most throwaway and lightweight triviality of a thing.”

“It’s the end of a phase for me,” says Dawson about finishing this album. “I don’t understand it but I feel it. I have to change my shoes shortly, see where they take me next. But I had to do this first… just to be a simple song-maker…. As direct as possible… and gather up a bunch of these little songs for kindling. There’s a good soundbite to finish with”.

Richard Dawson is playing two shows at The Stoller Hall this spring. The 23 April date is sold out, but there are still some seats up for grabs on 24 April.

Where to go near Richard Dawson at The Stoller Hall

Virgin Red Room
Manchester
Virgin Red Room

The Virgin Red Room is a new private members space located at Manchester’s AO Arena, with VIP access to some of the city’s biggest gigs.

Manchester
Restaurant
Chish & Fips

A special kind of Japanese-inspired fish and chip shop, from the team behind the incredible (and sadly-missed) Umezushi restaurant.

Manchester
Restaurant
Kitchen In An Arch

An offshoot from the much-loved Umezushi, this specialist deli is a one-stop-shop for all your sushi making needs, and also hosts occasional workshops to improve your culinary skills.

Chetham’s Library in Long Millgate in Manchester
Manchester
Library
Chetham’s Library

Chetham’s Library is one of the must-sees of any visit to Manchester. The library was founded in 1653, and is the oldest public library in the world – but the building dates back even further, to 1421.

Cathedral Quarter
Place of worship
Manchester Cathedral

A regular venue for gigs and one-off cultural events, Manchester Cathedral is nevertheless a working place of worship – open all year round.

Cathedral Quarter
Restaurant
Mamucium

High-class restaurant next to Victoria Station in Manchester, and attached to Hotel Indigo. Famed for steaks.

Cathedral Gardens
Cathedral Quarter
Park
Cathedral Gardens

Cathedral Gardens is a partially lawned public space in Manchester city centre, located between Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.

Manchester
Event venue
Festa Italiana

The 2022 Festa Italiana was a roaring success, with great food options and captivating live music performances throughout the weekend.

The National Football Museum Manchester
Manchester
Museum
National Football Museum

The National Football Museum is now open to the public, ready to show off its impressive array of football-related exhibits and activities.

What's on: Music

Rina Srabonian.
Until
MusicCity Centre
manchester jazz festival 2025

manchester jazz festival is back this May with 10 days of live music from some of the best northern, national and international musicians operating in the world of contemporary jazz.

0-£30
Sextile
MusicManchester
Sextile at The White Hotel

From sunny Los Angeles to deepest darkest Salford, electronic punk duo Sextile head to their spiritual home of The White Hotel.

From £16.00

Culture Guides

Hannah Platt 'Playing Out', courtesy of Threshold, photograph by Jules Lister.
Exhibitions in the North

From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.

Music in the North

Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss if you're not careful.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.