Sheffield musicians Ed Cosens and Samuel Taylor are launching Northern Nights, a new songwriters' series inspired by Nashville's intimate listening-room scene, such as the famous Bluebird Cafe. The venture aims to give quality songwriting a dedicated platform in the north of England, moving between different unique venues in the city rather than sticking to one location, and reflects a wider push to showcase strong storytelling within the broad Americana, blues, folk and roots scene.

The first Northern Nights event takes place this month at Merchants Court, featuring Ed Cosens alongside acclaimed songwriters Michele Stodart and Robert Vincent in a laidback songwriters' round. The series' name plays on the classic country song "Southern Nights", and organisers say future nights will lean into different styles, from bluesier sets to acts closer to country music, while keeping the focus on artists with genuinely strong songs rather than fame or genre.