Backing Ed Sheeran 'just playing with a friend' says Essex band
A folk band who backed Ed Sheeran at a surprise gig said they were "just playing music with a friend in the pub".Fishclaw backed the star as he played some of his greatest hits during an hour-long performance in Ipswich on Sunday.They played at short notice and did just one sound check about five minutes before playing with Sheeran at The Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich town centre.Rory Hobbs, who plays guitar and mandolin in the band, said: "It was a bit of a risk for him, given that we hadn't practised at all beforehand... but the faith he had in us was quite something."
Mr Hobbs, who has been friends with Sheeran for many years, said the Shape of You star messaged him ahead of the gig to ask if he could play with them."It was just playing music with a friend in the pub. He is a very sound, solid, normal guy," he said."Ed was good at bringing the best out of people and the crowd."It was nice playing in a local venue. It was spontaneous."
'Heart of music'
Colchester-based Fishclaw have been together for the past 12 years. Alongside Mr Hobbs, Shari Statcher plays Irish whistles, Charlie Charlton plays bass and Simon Keep plays piano accordion and keys, while Pete Rowley is on drums and Jos Dow on fiddle.Mr Hobbs said live jamming sessions were one of Sheeran's favourite things to do."Events like this help remind people that music is about connection," said Mr Hobbs."That is really the heart of music."The venue, in St Peter's Street, has been temporarily renamed The Old Phone after Sheeran's latest single.The singer, who went to school in Framlingham and still lives in Suffolk, last week announced a series of three homecoming concerts at Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium.The 34-year-old star is a keen supporter of the club and a minority shareholder.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Final call for entries to Pendine Young Musician of Wales
Royal composer Paul Mealor has extended a final call for entries to the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition. Open to instrumentalists and singers, the competition will be held during the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral, from September 11 to 20. Mr Mealor emphasised the potential impact on participants' careers, saying: "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The competition, funded by the Pendine Park care organisation, offers a generous prize pool for the top four finalists. The overall winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy and £2,000 in cash. The second prize winner will secure £1,000, and two runners-up will be awarded £500 each. The performances of all four finalists will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. A panel of judges, including Professor Helena Gaunt, Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Rebecca Evans CBE, a world-renowned operatic soprano; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, will select the winners. While the judges deliberate, last year's winner, Cardiff-based harpist Heledd Wynn Newton, will entertain the audience. The competition is open to all young musicians, either born or residing in Wales, or Welsh nationals living abroad, who were under 21 on January 1, 2025. Applicants under 18 will need the permission of their teacher or parent to enter. Mr Mealor added: "If there's any young instrumentalists or vocalists who want to have a chance to win thousands of pounds in prize money and to perform live on BBC Radio Cymru, they need to get their skates on." Entrants must upload their performance via a link on the festival's website to be judged anonymously. Selected participants will advance to the semi-final to perform a 10-minute programme, with four finalists competing the following night. Festival founder Mario Kreft said: "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "I think in years to come it will be one of the premier competitions for young musicians and will hopefully assist them and propel them in their careers." He added: "Like Paul, I would urge young musicians right across Wales to submit their entries now. "We can't wait to hear them perform, and to follow their futures in the world of music." The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, July 4. Entry forms can be downloaded from the festival's website.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Pulp on track to claim first number one album in 27 years
The rock outfit's latest offering, More, which is their first studio album since 2001's We Love Life, was released on Friday. The last time the Sheffield-based group topped the UK album charts was in 1998 with This Is Hardcore, which followed on from their best-known album, Different Class, which was released three years prior and is their only other chart-topping LP. The band are playing a number of gigs throughout the summer, including sets at Montreux Jazz Festival in July and Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in August. The veteran rockers have a gap in their schedule between June 21 and July 10, which has fuelled speculation that they could be among the secret acts currently listed as 'TBA' in the line-up for Glastonbury Festival, which is taking place later this month. Elsewhere in the album charts, UK rapper Little Simz could land her personal best if her latest offering, Lotus, scores the number two spot. The London-born artist has had three of her albums chart in the UK, including Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which peaked at number four and earned her the Mercury Prize in 2022. Addison Rae's mononymously named debut album is looking to enter the charts with her first ever top five. The TikTok star broke into the music scene in the past few years, with her most recent song, Fame Is A Gun, looking to make it into the top 20 singles charts while her album Addison is predicted to debut at number three. Welsh singer-songwriter Marina, whose real name is Marina Diamandis and is known by her former stage name, Marina and the Diamonds, is expected to reach number four in the album charts with Princess Of Power. My Chemical Romance could also rejoin the charts with Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge Deluxe Edition, more than 20 years after the album was first released. The second studio LP from the rock band previously peaked at number 34 in 2004, with the new release including 2025 remixes and bonus live tracks.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Pulp on track to claim first number one album in 27 years
Pulp on track to claim first number one album in 27 years The rock outfit's latest offering, More, which is their first studio album since 2001's We Love Life, was released on Friday Jarvis Cocker of Pulp performing on stage at Finsbury Park in London (Image: PA Archive/PA Images ) Indie band Pulp are on track to earn their first number one album in 27 years, according to the Official Charts Company. The rock outfit's latest offering, More, which is their first studio album since 2001's We Love Life, was released on Friday. The last time the Sheffield-based group topped the UK album charts was in 1998 with This Is Hardcore, which followed on from their best-known album, Different Class, which was released three years prior and is their only other chart-topping LP. The band are playing a number of gigs throughout the summer, including sets at Montreux Jazz Festival in July and Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in August. The veteran rockers have a gap in their schedule between June 21 and July 10, which has fuelled speculation that they could be among the secret acts currently listed as "TBA" in the line-up for Glastonbury Festival, which is taking place later this month. Elsewhere in the album charts, UK rapper Little Simz could land her personal best if her latest offering, Lotus, scores the number two spot. Article continues below The London-born artist has had three of her albums chart in the UK, including Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which peaked at number four and earned her the Mercury Prize in 2022. Addison Rae's mononymously named debut album is looking to enter the charts with her first ever top five. The TikTok star broke into the music scene in the past few years, with her most recent song, Fame Is A Gun, looking to make it into the top 20 singles charts while her album Addison is predicted to debut at number three. Article continues below Welsh singer-songwriter Marina, whose real name is Marina Diamandis and is known by her former stage name, Marina and the Diamonds, is expected to reach number four in the album charts with Princess Of Power. My Chemical Romance could also rejoin the charts with Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge Deluxe Edition, more than 20 years after the album was first released. The second studio LP from the rock band previously peaked at number 34 in 2004, with the new release including 2025 remixes and bonus live tracks.
