Nether Edge Festival - Summerisle, Alastair Gordon, & Robyn Gair
The Samuel Worth Chapel, Sheffield, S11 8NT
Monday 14th September 2026
Nether Edge Festival presents Summerisle, Alastair Gordon, & Robyn Gair
About the artists
Summerisle This Sheffield based duo are Sally Doherty and Frank Birtwistle.
Sally Doherty is a singer/songwriter from Sheffield. After studying Fine Art film making she turned her attentions to being a recording and performing artist releasing several self-penned albums as well as interpretations of Folk, Jazz and Latin American song. She has performed worldwide, composed for BBC TV and for BBC Radio 4 dramas and has been on many collaborative creative journeys including Planet Funk (Italian electronic band), Scanner (British electronic musician) and Donald Grant (Scottish Folk artist). She has sung on several of Richard Hawley’s recordings including ‘Tonight the Streets are Ours’ and he, in turn, featured on her album Electric Butterfly produced by Colin Elliot.
Frank Birtwistle, fingerstyle guitar player and composer, was originally from Lancashire and made Sheffield his home in the early 1990s. Having played since the age of 12 then as an adult not played his guitar at all for over ten years he suddenly became inspired to rekindle his passion for the instrument with beautiful and original results.
He has developed a pastoral and poetic playing style that sits between Classical and Folk. His solo compositions are numerous and many have been recorded and released as Eps in recent years.
Both artists were looking for another creative to share their sounds and ideas with.
This resulting collection of songs, mostly originals, some folk songs, explores the fragility and vulnerability of nature and of human existence; the parallels between the two.
https://youtu.be/ZU3HBbLzfRE?si=miCH7tdU1Zea2w7U
There are stories of childhood, love and loss, motherhood, the inevitable passing of time.
Sheffield-based folk and blues musician Alastair Gordon has a rich baritone voice and matches a creative approach to guitar and harmonica with unconventional lyrics. He’s supported a raft of modern folk artists including Fern Maddie, Jim Ghedi and Alabaster de Plume. Find out more about Alastair Gordon.
“Off kilter quirky baritone – that’s a very difficult style to pull off. Alastair absolutely nails it.” Christian Carlisle, BBC Sheffield
Robyn Gair is a folk-rock musician from Sheffield praised for their unique guitar stylings and extensive vocal range.
“Striking songs and an astonishing voice.”
- John Hackett, John Hackett Band
“Fluent folkie guitar and imaginative emotive material”
- Kevin Hewick, Botheration
“The kid's a star.”
- Steve Cooper, Crookes Folk Club
Join us for an evening of innovative folk music that is as fresh as it is timeless, in one of Sheffield’s most beautiful heritage spaces.
Tickets: £10.00 (+ Booking fee)
Event Details
About the artists
Summerisle This Sheffield based duo are Sally Doherty and Frank Birtwistle.
Sally Doherty is a singer/songwriter from Sheffield. After studying Fine Art film making she turned her attentions to being a recording and performing artist releasing several self-penned albums as well as interpretations of Folk, Jazz and Latin American song. She has performed worldwide, composed for BBC TV and for BBC Radio 4 dramas and has been on many collaborative creative journeys including Planet Funk (Italian electronic band), Scanner (British electronic musician) and Donald Grant (Scottish Folk artist). She has sung on several of Richard Hawley’s recordings including ‘Tonight the Streets are Ours’ and he, in turn, featured on her album Electric Butterfly produced by Colin Elliot.
Frank Birtwistle, fingerstyle guitar player and composer, was originally from Lancashire and made Sheffield his home in the early 1990s. Having played since the age of 12 then as an adult not played his guitar at all for over ten years he suddenly became inspired to rekindle his passion for the instrument with beautiful and original results.
He has developed a pastoral and poetic playing style that sits between Classical and Folk. His solo compositions are numerous and many have been recorded and released as Eps in recent years.
Both artists were looking for another creative to share their sounds and ideas with.
This resulting collection of songs, mostly originals, some folk songs, explores the fragility and vulnerability of nature and of human existence; the parallels between the two.
https://youtu.be/ZU3HBbLzfRE?si=miCH7tdU1Zea2w7U
There are stories of childhood, love and loss, motherhood, the inevitable passing of time.
Sheffield-based folk and blues musician Alastair Gordon has a rich baritone voice and matches a creative approach to guitar and harmonica with unconventional lyrics. He’s supported a raft of modern folk artists including Fern Maddie, Jim Ghedi and Alabaster de Plume. Find out more about Alastair Gordon.
“Off kilter quirky baritone – that’s a very difficult style to pull off. Alastair absolutely nails it.” Christian Carlisle, BBC Sheffield
Robyn Gair is a folk-rock musician from Sheffield praised for their unique guitar stylings and extensive vocal range.
“Striking songs and an astonishing voice.”
- John Hackett, John Hackett Band
“Fluent folkie guitar and imaginative emotive material”
- Kevin Hewick, Botheration
“The kid's a star.”
- Steve Cooper, Crookes Folk Club
Join us for an evening of innovative folk music that is as fresh as it is timeless, in one of Sheffield’s most beautiful heritage spaces.
Tickets: £10.00 (+ Booking fee)
Event Details
- Doors: 7.00pm
- Performance: 7.030pm
- Location: The Samuel Worth Chapel, Sheffield, S11 8NT
- Accessibility: The Samuel Worth Chapel is fully accessible.
- Facilities: The Samuel Worth Chapel has a fully licensed bar selling local beers, wine and spirits.
- Tickets: All tickets are sold online via Ticketsource. No tickets are available on the door.
- Please note, bags will be checked upon entry.
- Tickets for this event are non-refundable. However, if for any reason the event is cancelled by Sheffield General Cemetery Trust, we will refund your ticket.
- Email [email protected] with any questions about this event.
Price
Ticket price incl. booking fee
£10.78
