Latest news with #Sheeran
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ed Sheeran invited James Blunt on stage during final Ipswich show
Ed Sheeran brought out James Blunt during the final night of his three-show residency at Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich on July 13, 2025. The two artists performed Blunt's 2004 song 'Goodbye My Lover' in front of approximately 30,000 attendees. Following the performance, Sheeran posted a message on Instagram providing context for the collaboration. He shared that he first saw Blunt perform 21 years earlier at the same venue, when Blunt was the opening act for Elton John. According to Sheeran, that concert had a significant influence on him as a teenager. He stated that after that show, he purchased Blunt's album, became a fan, and attended several of his concerts. Sheeran also noted that he later signed with the same management team and record label as Blunt. Over time, their professional paths led to a personal friendship. Sheeran mentioned that they have been friends for over a decade and that he is the godfather to Blunt's son. The performance at Portman Road took place shortly after Blunt concluded a tour in South America. Despite having just finished the tour, Blunt traveled to Ipswich to join Sheeran for the final night of his hometown shows. Sheeran described the moment as one of his 'top-three favourite moments on stage ever.' The appearance was part of Sheeran's homecoming series in Ipswich, marking a return to the venue where he had once watched his musical inspirations perform. The shows were attended by thousands and included a mix of older hits and more recent material.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ed Sheeran delivers emotional message at Suffolk homecoming show
Ed Sheeran shared a heartfelt moment during the second of three sold-out concerts at Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, reflecting on his deep connection to his hometown. Addressing approximately 30,000 fans, the 34-year-old revealed he once felt 'so incredibly lost' while living in Los Angeles. He added, 'When I moved back to Suffolk, everything just fell into place, and this is not only my home, it's my safety.' Sheeran praised the region's strong sense of community and highlighted the local football club's influence . He also invited longtime friend James Blunt onstage to sing 'Goodbye My Lover'. Sheeran described the duet as 'one of my top‑three favourite moments on stage ever' and a dream collaboration . The residency marked a full‑circle celebration from busking as a teenager in Suffolk to headlining the stadium decades later. The shows underscored how Sheeran continues to balance global stardom with a lasting bond to his Ipswich roots.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ed Sheeran Overwhelmed With Emotion Performing With Musical Hero James Blunt: ‘Top 3 Favorite Moments on Stage Of All Time'
Ed Sheeran has played gigs in the largest venues all over the world, collaborated with major pop and hip-hop stars (Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Stormzy) and had his songs streamed tens of billions of times. But on Sunday night (July 13) during the final show of his three-night run at Suffolk's Portman Road stadium — home of his beloved Ipswich Town FC football club — Sheeran truly took it back to the start when he shared the stage with the singer who made him want to do this all in the first place: James Blunt. More from Billboard Ed Sheeran & Kylie Kelce Call Taylor Swift the 'Cheat Code' for Easy Applause Boy George Doesn't Think Modern LGBTQ+ Identity Politics Have 'Helped Anyone' George Kittle Recalls Getting to Sing His 'Favorite Taylor Swift Song' With the Pop Star at a Bar 'I rarely get nervous at gigs, I do this so often. I'm very nervous to sing this, because I've never sung this with him and this really is a dream come true,' Sheeran told the crowd as he announced Blunt. The two then launched into a duet on Blunt's sentimental 2004 hit 'Goodbye My Lover,' with Blunt taking the lead on vocal and playing keyboards as Sheeran strummed an acoustic guitar. 'I'm quite emotional after that actually. That is top three favorite moment on stage ever. Ever,' Sheeran said afterwards. Sheeran has long spoken of the huge impact Blunt's music had on his own desire to write and perform songs and in an accompanying note on the video he wrote, 'I saw @jamesblunt when I was 13 opening for @eltonjohn at Portman Road. I bought his album that day, then got obsessed. My dad took me to Cambridge junction to see him months after, and he became my favourite singer songwriter. His songs moulded me, his performing inspired me. I wanted to be him.' He added, 'I wanted to be him so much that I signed to the same management as him. I wanted to be him so much I signed to the same record label as him. I sometimes have to remind myself how much he means and meant to me, because we've been mates for well over a decade now. I'm godfather to his son. He's one of my close mates.' Sheeran said that he sometimes forgets he was once a 13-year-old boy who got obsessed with Blunt, covered his songs at a school talent show, went to a number of the fellow singer-songwriter's gigs and has transformed from being just a fan to a both a fan and a friend, which is 'super weird' when he thinks about it. 'I asked him to do the final night at ipswich because of that gig 21 years ago where I saw him at the same venue,' Sheeran explained. 'And I asked him to sing my favourite songs of his tonight, because he, and the song, mean so much to me. Thank you James for coming today. I know you finished your South American tour two days ago, and you should be resting, but you flew to ipswich to sing with me. And it meant the world.' The 'Bad Habits' ended his note with a reversal of the old saw about meeting your heroes. 'Don't meet your hero's, unless your hero's are James Blunt,' Sheeran wrote. 'Love you mate.' It was a magical weekend for Sheeran all around, as he also got to collaborate with another one of his formative influences, British boy band Westlife, who joined him on night one for a joint performance of their 1999 hit single 'Flying Without Wings' during the run that included support from Myles Smith, Tori Kelly, Busted, Skye Newman, Dylan and Maisie Peters. Check out footage of the performance and Sheeran's note below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Observer
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Ed Sheeran showcases debut collection of Jackson Pollock-esque art
British pop star Ed Sheeran has swapped a microphone for paint brushes, with the fruits of his endeavours to go on display later this week, the London gallery exhibiting his works confirmed Wednesday. The abstract pieces -- colourful Jackson Pollock-esque paintings and prints -- will be available to buy, with part of the proceeds going to the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports musical education in schools. They are also set to be exhibited at Heni art gallery in central London from Friday until August 1, with the collection called "Cosmic Carpark Paintings", the gallery said. Sheeran, 34, behind smash hits like "Shape of You" and "Perfect", took to social media earlier this week to share the news, explaining he worked on the paintings last year in between shows. He also shared a video of his painting process at work, showing him splashing large canvases with brightly coloured paint. "I love painting, more for fun and to give to friends, but this time I was encouraged to do a show of them by @damienhirst and @heni," he posted on Instagram. "I paint when I'm not working on a record, just to do something creative with my brain. And it's mostly just splashing colours on canvases, think Jackson Pollock but with colourful house paint." Sheeran added that did not make him "an artist" but noted that he loves "making art" and that "it makes me feel great, and I love the end result". Heni, which said Sheeran's "painting journey" began in 2019 following his record-breaking Divide tour, noted he used one of his earlier creations as the official artwork for his single "Afterglow" in 2020. The colourful pieces in his debut collection were "inspired by celestial patterns" and painted in a disused London carpark last year, it added. Singer, songwriter, and performer Sheeran is one of the most listened to artists in the world. He also makes the list of the 40 richest people under 40 in the UK, with a fortune estimated at £370 million ($504 million), according to the Sunday Times' latest annual wealth rankings of Britons. —AFP
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Ed Sheeran showcases debut collection of Jackson Pollock-esque art
Ed Sheeran has swapped a microphone for paint brushes, with the fruits of his endeavours to go on display later this week, the London gallery exhibiting his works has confirmed. The abstract pieces - colourful Jackson Pollock-esque paintings and prints - will be available to buy, with profits going to the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports musical education in schools. They are also set to be exhibited at Heni art gallery in central London from Friday 11 July until Friday 1 August, with the collection called Cosmic Carpark Paintings, the gallery said. Sheeran, 34, behind hits like Shape of You and Perfect, took to social media earlier this week to share the news, explaining he worked on the paintings last year in between shows. He also shared a video of his painting process at work, showing him splashing large canvases with brightly coloured paint. 'I love painting, more for fun and to give to friends, but this time I was encouraged to do a show of them by @damienhirst and @heni,' he posted on Instagram. 'I paint when I'm not working on a record, just to do something creative with my brain. And it's mostly just splashing colours on canvases, think Jackson Pollock but with colourful house paint.' Sheeran added that does not make him 'an artist' but noted that he loves 'making art' and that 'it makes me feel great, and I love the end result'. Heni, which said Sheeran's 'painting journey' began in 2019 following his record-breaking Divide tour, noted he used one of his earlier creations as the official artwork for his single Afterglow in 2020. The colourful pieces in his debut collection were 'inspired by celestial patterns' and painted in a disused London car park last year, it added. Singer, songwriter, and performer Sheeran is one of the most listened to artists in the world. He also makes the list of the 40 richest people under 40 in the UK, with a fortune estimated at £370 million, according to The Sunday Times' latest annual wealth rankings of Britons.
