Experience the intimate storytelling of a Nashville-style songwriters’ round as Eve Simpson brings an array of international and local guests to the Pianodrome.
The round features songwriters from across the globe, as well as highlighting a local artist, sharing the stories behind their songs and performing them in unexpected ways. Four writers sit together, playing stripped-back acoustic versions, responding to one another and inviting improvisation that makes each performance unique.
Audiences are drawn into a warm, collaborative atmosphere where songs evolve in real time.
Eve Simpson is a North East-rooted artist crafting piano-led folk and melodic pop. Her sound is defined by soaring vocals, and a classic, nostalgic vibrato, offering an unfiltered approach to songwriting, while creating a theatrical, cinematic world where intimate emotions are expanded into something shared, mythic, and deeply human. With over a decade of live performance behind her, she has evolved from early collaborations with Kathryn Tickell to headline UK tours and international stages, including Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London Fashion Week, and Nashville’s Bluebird Café.
Jeff Cohen is a Grammy and CMT Award Nominated, Six Time BMI Award Winning Songwriter/Producer/Publisher based in Nashville and London. His songs have appeared on over 25 million albums sold with over 100 placements in TV/Film. Jeff’s songs have been recorded by The Shires, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, Evan and Jaron, Spin Doctors, Josh Groban, Mandy Moore, Jake Bugg, Teitur, Kristian Bush, Nick Lachey, Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill), Macy Gray, Nine Days, Ilse DeLange, Nell Bryden, GoldFord and many more. His songs have been in TV Shows such as Paw Patrol (Theme), Jack and Jill (Theme), Dawson's Creek, The Simpsons, One Tree Hill, Saturday Night Live, Lego Masters and more plus Movies like The Princess Diaries , Aquamarine, Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, Stuart Little 2 and more. Jeff's songs have also been placed in Commercials like Samsung, Timex, Dignity Health Care and more. As a former Music Exec at BMI, he worked with Jeff Buckley, Spin Doctors,, Lisa Loeb, Joan Osborne, Kara DioGuardi and more. Jeff is also the founder of the critically acclaimed band Pancho's Lament, Co-Founder of Gotham Songwriters Festival plus serves on the boards of NSAI and Inspired Nation.
Imogen and the Knife is a singer songwriter from the North East now based in SE London, revered for her emotionally direct songwriting and spellbinding live show. Joining the dots along a jagged line of influences from Kate Bush, Nick Cave, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright and more, Imogen and the Knife crafts a unique world that glints with intrigue in each new track - from rhythmic swells and brooding orchestral arrangements to the grounded haunting trademark of her piano and vocal performance. Beautiful, poignant song writing is brought to life with moments of quiet reflection and fresh, full-bodied instrumentals.
Scottish Acoustic Live Artist of the Year Kirsteen Harvey is a 26-year-old independent singer-songwriter from Glasgow whose sound blends folk influences with contemporary lyricism inspired by Scotland and her upbringing in a family of trad musicians. She has gained support from BBC Radio Scotland, the SSE Hydro and The Scottish Sun, while her online videos have been recognised by Amy MacDonald and Marti Pellow and shared by Lewis Capaldi, The Kinks and Noah Kahan. Kirsteen released her debut EP Unpredictable in 2023, followed by Wee Tunes from Home in 2024, which surpassed 1.5 million streams. Her latest EP, Senses, was released in July 2025.