The global stars who rocked Ipswich Portman Road over the years

BBC News

03-05-2025

Ipswich Town Football Club's Portman Road will welcome global superstar Ed Sheeran in July - but he is not the first to have rocked the stadium.Similar big names including Sir Elton John and Rod Stewart have performed to thousands of fans in years gone by.Even the legendary Tina Turner blessed the town with her presence during a show in the 1990s.As Ipswich gets ready to welcome Sheeran in July for three shows, here is a look back at the stars who have played at Portman Road over the years.
Tina Turner
The late Tina Turner came to Portman Road in 1990 as part of her Foreign Affair tour that included 121 shows.Notably her Portman Road show was the first ever concert to be held at the stadium. Songs performed to the thousands included What's Love Got to Do With It, Proud Mary, Show Some Respect and many more. Turner died in 2023 at the age of 83.
Rod Stewart
Stewart has performed not once, not twice, but three times at Portman Road.He first took to the stage in 1991 with fans queuing for hours to ensure they got a good spot once inside the stadium.Stewart literally kicked off this show by booting a football into the crowd of 25,000 fans. Fast forward 16 years, he was back again in 2007 as torrential downpours failed to stop the crowds turning up in their thousands.Supporting group The Pretenders kept the crowd warm despite the rain, before Stewart came out and belted out hits like Maggie May and You Wear It Well.Stewart was back in town in 2019 performing to a 19,000 strong crowd as the heavens once again opened.
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, the Groover from Vancouver, filled Portman Road back in 1992 for his Waking Up the World tour. He was supported by Squeeze, Little Angels and Extreme, and the tour merchandise T-Shirts included Ipswich's name nestled in with big cities like Athens, Berlin, Manchester and more. The encore was electric as Adams performed the beloved song Summer of '69 as well as Diana and One Night Love Affair. The Canadian star later returned to Ipswich to perform at the Regent Theatre in 2010.
Dire Straits
1970s rock group Dire Straits performed at Portman Road back in 1992, nine months after the release of their sixth studio album, On Every Street.The album went to number one in the album charts after its release. The Portman Road tickets cost £21 and the band was supported by Was (Not Was) and Lyle Lovett.
Elton John
Sir Elton performed at Portman Road in 2004 and more recently in 2017.In 2004, 23,000 fans attended to see the gig, which was the first one at the stadium in 12 years. James Blunt warmed up the crowd before Sir Elton took to the stage. BBC Suffolk reporter at the time, Oli Moorman, spoke of the "amazing atmosphere" as Sir Elton performed. "The look of complete elation on so many faces (in some cases fuelled by a tipple or two) was a clear sign that Sir Elton had given the people of Ipswich a night to remember," he said. In 2017 Sir Elton was then supported by Jake Isaac at a sold out show and wowed the crowds with Rocket Man, Your Song, and many other hits.
R.E.M.
American quartet R.E.M. performed at Portman Road for their Around the Sun tour in 2005.The show was the day after the country was left shocked by four suicide bombers targeting London's transport network killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more. Singer Michael Stipe started the show with a statement detailing the band's intention for the performance, which he said was "about catharsis, about epiphany, about feeling, about remembering, about community and about celebration - about celebrating life".Songs included on the set list were Everybody Hurts, Losing My Religion and Man on the Moon.
Neil Diamond
In 2005 Neil Diamond, the legendary singer behind Sweet Caroline, performed at Portman Road.The two hour performance included many of his top hits, but fans at the time said they were disappointed with the lack of Song Sung Blue that would have been very apt with Town's blue kit. Regardless many were still overjoyed with the then 64-year-old's performance.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
In 2006 American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers traveled to Ipswich as part of their UK tour that year. The sold out show to 28,000 fans was kicked off by singer Anthony Kiedis questioning to the crowd: "Ipswich? Where's Ipswich?"The gig included hit songs like Californication that was described as "immense", and others like Can't Stop, Dani California and Right on Time with a London Calling style intro. BBC reporter Jim Connolly said at the time the crowd "lapped up" the performance.
P!nk
In late 2009 P!nk announced her Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour for the UK which included a Portman Road date.It was just one of six shows for the American singer.In the summer of the following year, P!nk delighted fans with songs including Get the Party Started, Funhouse and So What.She also included acrobatic stunts that she has become famous for during her live shows.
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow, the American singer behind Copacabana, Mandy and Could It Be Magic announced he was playing Portman Road in 2014 as part of an eight-date tour. It was also the first show at the stadium since P!nk in 2010. Manilow performed many of his hits delighting thousands of fans.
Ed Sheeran
While Sheeran has just announced his upcoming shows, it is technically not the first time he has performed at Portman Road. Sheeran previously performed there in 2021 as part of TikTok's UEFA Euro 2020 show.While the event was live streamed, there was no live audience however. Sheeran has performed other shows however across Ipswich including in Chantry Park in 2019.Tickets for Sheeran's upcoming July shows go on sale in the coming days.
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