Chesney Hawkes - Still the One and Only

Yorkshire Businesswoman talks to 1990's pop sensation about his new album and his upcoming UK tour including Brudenell Social Club in Leeds on 12th March.

Thirty-five years after the one and only became one of the most recognisable songs of a generation, Chesney Hawkes remains as energised as ever. On the brink of releasing his new album Living Arrows and preparing for his 2026 UK tour, he reflects on longevity, fatherhood, friendship and the enduring thrill of stepping onto a stage.

“I feel very privileged and humbled,” he says, with the sincerity of someone who understands just how rare a career like his is.

For many artists, a signature hit can feel like a shadow that follows them. For Chesney it is a gift. He doesn’t tire of performing the song that defined an era, quite the opposite. He embraces it. To have a track that continues to resonate across generations is, in his words, an incredible thing.

And when he plays it live? The buzz is still there. Every single time. The roar of the crowd, the shared energy in the room, it never gets old.

Living Arrows: A Personal Journey

The title of Chesney's’ forthcoming album is rooted not in nostalgia, but in fatherhood.

Living Arrows was inspired by his children and the instinct every parent feels to guide, protect and gently steer. As they reach certain milestones, he explains, you simply want to help point them in the right direction. The image of children as “living arrows” launched into the world but shaped by the love and guidance behind them became the emotional anchor for the record.

The album evolved organically, born out of friendship and creative chemistry. Working alongside his close friend Luke Gosling, known for collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Chesney found the process fluid and instinctive. After sharing the track 'Nobody Like You', the pair produced it in just two and a half hours. From there, the project took on a natural momentum, growing track by track into something deeply personal.

Among its most poignant moments is 'Surprise Yourself', written for his son. It is a song about self-belief, a father’s message of unwavering faith in his child’s potential. Equally heartfelt is 'Loud', written in memory of his close friend. The loss left a profound mark, and the song stands as tribute.

Back on Tour
March 2026 will see Chesney return to UK stages following European dates, and his excitement is unmistakable. He speaks again of feeling privileged, aware that opportunities to tour decades into a career should never be taken for granted.

Audiences can expect a carefully balanced setlist: half new material, half beloved classics. The fresh emotional depth of Living Arrows will sit comfortably alongside the songs fans have cherished for years.

As for pre-show nerves after more than three decades in the business? There’s a calm confidence now. The stage is home.

Life Beyond the Stage
Recently, Chesney stepped into a very different environment, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother. The experience, he admits, was intense. Cut off from the outside world, no phones, no family, no familiar routines and it tested him in unexpected ways. Yet from that pressure came meaningful friendships and a shared sense of support when moments felt overwhelming.

When it comes to touring, however, one constant remains non-negotiable: his brother. As the drummer in the band, he has been by Chesney's side throughout the journey. Having him there is more than musical cohesion, it is comfort, loyalty and shared history rolled into every performance.

The Simple Joy of a Special Night
At the heart of it all lies something beautifully straightforward. After the lights fade and the final chords ring out, Chesney wants his audience to leave feeling like they’ve had a genuinely special night, to have had fun, to have felt connected.

Three decades on, Chesney Hawkes remains exactly what he has always been: an artist fuelled by gratitude, friendship, family and the uncomplicated joy of playing live.

Still the one and only, and still loving every minute.

Tickets from: www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/Chesney-Hawkes