Latest news with #SummerSoulVibes
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ipswich soul festival 'shocked' by Ed Sheeran Portman Road clash
Organisers of a soul music festival said they were shocked when Ed Sheeran announced shows on the same dates just miles 16 in Ipswich will host its annual Summer Soul Vibes festival on 12 July, one of the dates Sheeran will play the town's Portman Road Parker, in charge of technical operations for the festival, said the team was worried about the knock-on effects the clash could have on things like transport and hotel manager Jamie Lee Smith said the team had "total respect" for Sheeran but called on him for help. The singer's management team has been approached for comment. Sheeran announced a series of shows at the home of Ipswich Town Football Club on 11, 12 and 13 dates have all sold out, with 30,000 fans expected for each Smith said he was initially "upset" after Sheeran's announcement but was staying positive despite the "big challenge" it would cause the venue. "It's always a risk when you run an event, but if you base it on our last two or three years that we've done it - and we've had a fabulous time here - and it's growing," he explained."In general, 10, 12 weeks before the event is probably where half of the tickets are sold, it really starts hotting up."We're eight weeks away now and the last four weeks that heat up hasn't been happening."Mr Smith said a number of other reasons like the cost of living could also be behind the fall in demand for tickets, but described Sheeran's shows as "the icing on the cake". Mr Parker added he had concerns for the wider infrastructure."We know taxis are going to be full, we know trains are going to be hard to come by, we know hotel prices are going to go through the roof, if they are even available anymore," he explained."In events, all is fair. We can't deny anybody their slice of the pie but the problem is, when you bring something of that global notoriety into a town, it's going to have a huge knock-on effect on other events."Organisers said they were now trying to use the clash to their advantage and admitted they may need to "work harder".They have also written to Sheeran's management team expressing their delight with his return to Portman Road, while also asking for support. "I'd love Ed to come here and come and see us and what we do because I think he'd be quite impressed with the music scene," Mr Smith added. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5 big names coming to Suffolk this summer
Summer certainly feels like it is just around the corner following recent hot and sunny weather. There are many events planned to take place across Suffolk from June until August, with big names expected at some of them. Here are five celebrities coming to the county this summer. Ed Sheeran will be playing at Portman Road in July (Image: Charlotte Bond)When: Friday, July 11 until Sunday, July 13 The global superstar is returning home with three concerts set to take place at Portman Road stadium. It comes ahead of the release of his new album Play in September which sees the singer explore new musical ground through collaboration with artists across the world. READ MORE: Marvin Humes will be at Summer Soul Vibes in Ipswich (Image: PA)When: Friday, July 11 The JLS member is headlining the first night of Summer Soul Vibes at Venue16 in Ipswich. Summer Soul Fest will also be running on Saturday, July 12, with headliner Soul II Soul and other acts like Kenny Thomas and The Ipswich Soul Collective. The Welsh singer has previously performed in Suffolk (Image: Gregg Brown)When: Friday, August 3 The Delilah singer is making his return to the county with a performance after the races at Newmarket Racecourse. He previously visited the site in 2021 to mark the celebration of his 80th birthday. READ MORE: 7 major events and things to do in Suffolk in May Sting performed in Thetford Forest last year (Image: Sonya Duncan)When: Friday, July 26 The former Police singer is headlining the first night of Latitude at Henham Park, near Southwold. Other headliners for the three-day festival include Fat Boy Slim and Snow Patrol. Sugababes will be performing at Newmarket Nights (Image: PA)When: Saturday, August 23 Natasha Bedingfield, who is known for hits like Unwritten, will kick of post-race celebrations at Newmarket Racecourse. She will be followed by girl group Sugababes with the original line-up of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy.
