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“I do sometimes take a step back and appreciate all this stuff”

Following the September release of his EP, Songs With Friends, Ed Cosens is hitting the road on a UK tour, including a performance at The Greystones in Sheffield.

The creative catalyst, guitarist, songwriter and former band member of Reverend And the Makers, Ed Cosens, is on a bit of a roll of late following the release of Songs With Friends.

He’s also been working on a highly-praised musical and his almost finished third LP.

Speaking about Songs With Friends, Ed said: “From sort of moving away from the band, I wanted to sort of get out, write with other people and to sort of broaden my horizons a little bit.”

Despite never receiving an official announcement, Ed left the Reverend And the Makers a few years ago to forge his own way, marking the end of 20-years in the popular Sheffield rock band.

He’s been using his time wisely though, travelling around the world to “learn more songwriting and get better, basically,” Ed says.

“I’ve been lucky enough to do song writing sessions with lots of different people, I’ve been travelling around, and I went to Nashville a couple of times, Italy as well, plus lots of stuff over here in the UK.

“I got this idea that it would be nice to collaborate with some people and revisit some of my favourite songs.

“It was all very natural, I even did a song with James Walsh (of Starsailor fame. I did a songwriting session with James and at the end of that we decided to do a cover of an Everly Brothers song (Let It Be Me).”

“It was that which sparked the idea in my head to do covers with people I’d been writing with. It just kind of came from there.”

Ed Cosens recently announced his 5th single ‘I Need Your Love So Bad’, completing his collection of covers EP ‘Songs With Friends’. | Provided

He added: “I was actually lucky enough to record the Neil Young cover with an amazing singer, Beth Nielsen Chapman who’s been nominated for the Grammys. She’s incredible, I was lucky enough to record the vocals with her in Nashville.”

The “Songs With Friends” EP brings together a period of Ed’s musical life where he has reached out beyond his old familiar settings of having been in an indie band and pushed himself to find more from music and develop beyond the confines of the traditional lanes of the indie world.

Ed is also recording his third album. A long-awaited follow-up to his critically well-received sophomore album, Somewhere Between Dark and Light.

But that’s not all, Ed has also branched out into theatre overseeing the musical direction and sound design for the debut theatre production from Milburn frontman, Joe Carnall Jnr.

How Could I Forget? has just finished its mini-Yorkshire tour, taking in Sheffield’s Crucible, Leeds, Hull and Barnsley – to great praise. It’s an emotive, heartfelt, funny and tear-inducing piece of theatre.

‘How Could I Forget?’ is the debut theatre play from Joe Carnall Jnr (formerly of Milburn and Reverend & The Makers). | Provided

Ed spoke about how he got involved.

“It was about five-years ago when I first heard about it,” he said.

“Over time, it developed and he (Joe Carnall Jnr) approached me to arrange and record the music.

“Then he asked me to be the Musical Director and I was more than happy to do that.

“It was something different and I naively went into it thinking that it would be the same as when I did it for the band…It’s so different, so precise. It’s a different world.

“It’s been so interesting to be a part of that process. When it was performed at the Crucible, it was phenomenal to be in a place like that – I’m honoured that he asked me.”

READ MORE: “It’s a celebration of life”: Milburn frontman Joe Carnall Jnr on debut musical going on Yorkshire tour

There was a “real learning curve”, when it came to getting involved with a theatre production. But Ed feels that the message is important and the themes within are tough but sincere.

“It’s going brilliantly. It’s a very emotive piece but very uplifting at the same time. Something that resonates with many people,” he said.

Ed Cosens is to promote his new album with gigs at venues in Sheffield and Nottingham. (Photo credit: @P_E_D_A_L_O)

“I do sometimes take a step back and appreciate all this stuff, maybe it’s the Sheffield in me. But it’s just one of those things. You just sort of do it, see where life takes you.”

What is next for Ed Cosens, the artist and (newly attributed) musical director?

“Obviously, I’m working on finishing the third album and I’ve got some gigs in November. Some little acoustic headline shows, which I’m excited about,” he said.

“I’ve also got some support gigs as well, one of those is in Sheffield. I’m supporting a brilliant singer-songwriter called Callaghan, she’s fantastic. We are at The Greystones on October 26.

“I think there are a handful of tickets remaining, so grab them while you can.”

Ed Cosens will be performing at The Greystones on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Songs With Friends is out now on all streaming platforms

Book tickets to Callaghan feat. Ed Cosens at The Greystones via wegottickets.