Ed Sheeran thrills fans with 'surprise' Ipswich gig
Rachel Clements, 28, from Stowmarket, said she was "very excited that he's doing something this small, in our home town".Ms Clements said she was hoping to hear his latest track and new material from his Play album, which includes a song called Old Phone."We had one of his songs as our wedding song last year, so in a way I'm hoping he'll do that," she added.Ms Clements was among the many fans who responded to an Ed Sheeran WhatsApp message to get tickets. People were also waiting to see if they might be let in if there was space.
Alyssa Ali, 20, from Florida in the US, had been in London where she has been studying for a month.She fortuitously decided to come to Ipswich this weekend, as part of her travels around the UK.Sheeran grew up in Framlingham, about 15 miles north of Ipswich, but he is known for being an avid Ipswich Town fan and has sponsored their shirts, and he played gigs at other pubs in the town before he became famous."I love Ed and have been a fan for a decade," said Ms Ali."So I had to come to his hometown and go around Ipswich, and I was here yesterday, and then he decided to pop-up here in this pub, and my hotel's eight minutes walk from there, so we ran over here as soon as I found out, hoping to get in."I'm so nervous because I don't know if I'll be able to get in. I'm just so excited to be in his presence again."She said she was very much looking forward to hearing his new songs.
Michael Marron, 38, from Ipswich, was also hoping to see Sheeran perform. "Delighted, we saw him do this show in America and we were wondering if he would do something like this in Ipswich."It's great that he's come back to Ipswich and he's entertaining the people of Suffolk."Sheeran is known for playing impromptu gigs in Suffolk's county town, including one on the Town Hall steps in 2022."It's a buzz, and he always goes the extra mile for the people of Suffolk," said Mr Marron."I remember he was here not so long ago and he gifted a guitar to a primary school child. It's great to see celebrities do that."It is understood music bloggers, influencers and selected fans were invited or picked at random to attend the gig.Last week, the musician announced a a run of three gigs at Ipswich Town's Portman Road in July. He is also a minority stakeholder in the club, which has just been relegated from the Premier League.The Thomas Wolsey is named after one of Ipswich's most famous sons - Henry VIII's right hand man Cardinal Wolsey, whose statue is just along the road from the pub.
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
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Is your hairdresser sabotaging you? A-list stylist explains why you need to rethink breakup bangs BEFORE booking
Bangs have long been thought of as the ultimate post-breakup haircut (and often a major mistake), with plenty of think pieces on the matter ranging from investigating ' the psychology behind the post-breakup haircut' to asking, 'cute hairstyle or cry for help?' One particularly popular Reddit thread posed the question, 'What's the male equivalent of bangs after a breakup?' with answers ranging from getting a tattoo to trying a buzz cut. On TikTok, plenty of women showcase themselves trying out brand new 'dos in the midst of personal turmoil, just for their followers to ask why their hairstylist would ever approve of such a makeover. Now, there are plenty of controversial celebrity-approved haircuts that women can turn to in their time of emotional upheaval... but should they? That's the real question, and turned to hairstylist Mia Santiago for answers. Santiago, who splits her time between Columbus, Ohio and New York City, told 'a big chop or fresh style can be incredibly invigorating and empowering, but it can also feel overwhelming if it's coming from a reactive place.' Santiago, who works with Mariska Hargitay, Ed Sheeran, Emily Lind, and Maia Reficco, feels strongly that hairstylists need to know when to tell their clients no, especially if a style is particularly difficult to maintain, and if they're deciding under duress. Santiago had a client who was going through a tough time and wanted bangs, but instead of jumping in with the scissors, she took a moment to walk her through the upkeep, daily styling, and how they'd change the shape of her face, and she ended up changing her mind. Leslie Bibb's blunt bob has been an equally popular ask this summer, although not everyone can pull it off like the former teen model. Bibb's blunt blonde bob is thanks to hairstylist Chris McMillan, who's also the creator of the iconic 'Rachel' haircut from Friends, which Jennifer Aniston made famous. McMillan quickly nicknamed Bibb's haircut the 'c**ty little bob,' which took off on social media, as women flocked to their hairstylists and requested the same angled styling. Santiago joked that its been a 'bob b**ch summer' because the style tends to be 'chic, confident and low-maintenance,' making for the perfect modern and wearable transformation. But the chop certainly doesn't work for everyone, especially if they'll panic after parting ways with their beloved locks. 'The trends themselves aren't the problem,' Santiago said. Instead, she believes 'the real issue is when we expect a haircut to solve something emotional.' Santiago told she sees too many clients who are 'going through it' and believe 'chopping 10 inches' will be the answer. While it temporarily is, when they're suddenly struggling with styling their new 'do or bold bangs, they're left 'spiraling over something that wasn't really about hair to begin with.' Santiago said that she's had multiple clients come to her and ask for major transformations without thinking it over first. While 'no one loves a bold hair transformation' more than the celebrity stylist, who has set up shop at the star-studded Sally Hershberger Salon, she's become adept at realizing when something deeper is going on. 'While I'm not a mind reader, I think it's essential to understand the why behind the request,' Santiago spilled. Instead of just letting it happen, Santiago will 'dive into a deeper consultation' if a client seems hesitant, to 'discuss their lifestyle, styling habits, face shape, and even personal style,' because 'just because something is trending doesn't mean it's right for everyone.' Many times, people post massive mane transformations on social media, but they're not always happy. While they'll smile in the salon chair, they'll post videos bawling about the results, desperately searching for a stylist who can take them back to their original color or style. Santiago explained that these miscommunications happen because 'stylists genuinely want to make their clients happy, and that can make it hard to say no, even when something might not be the best fit.' The 17-year styling veteran said truth-telling can be especially difficult for newer stylists, because 'there's this fear that pushing back will hurt the relationship,' while 'more seasoned pros know how to gently guide the conversation.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Ed Sheeran buys lavish £9M New York pad as singer adds to ever-growing property portfolio
He already has an impressive property portfolio worth a staggering £70million. And in his latest move to expand his ever-growing investments, Daily Mail can reveal Ed Sheeran has snapped up a sprawling £9million pad in New York. The singer, 34, has purchased his dream pad in the heart of Brooklyn, which neighbours his pal Kendrick Lamar. Ed - who is estimated a whopping £300million - and his wife Cherry Seaborn set up a company to handle the purchase of the NYC home. The couple, who have been married since 2019, share daughters Lyra, four, and Jupiter, two, and grew up together in the same town in Suffolk. Setting up the company has given Ed and Cherry tax advantages should they come to flog the splendid waterfront property. Documents filed in New York show that no mortgage or loan is attached to the sale. The pair were already renting another pad in the same complex for a whopping £25,000 per month before deciding to buy their new place outright. The Grammy-winning star purchased the roughly 3,400-square-foot place in an off-market deal. The large complex offers luxury amenities including two fitness centres, a garage with EV charging stations and 24-hour attended lobbies. Ed already owns at least 27 properties in London including a large £20million house in Notting Hill and houses in other sought-after areas including Holland Park and Covent Garden. The star's investments are held under private companies and don't even include his large estate in Suffolk where he lives with his wife Cherry and their two daughters. And his business ventures are not just UK-based, the A Team singer also has a large villa in Italy which comes with its own vineyards. Five assets in the capital have been incorporated into Sheeran's vast 'Edopoly' property empire. His old rental - which sits in the same complex building - included a foyer and the kitchen alongside two sets of stairs inside Sheeran's Brooklyn apartment He has two properties in Covent Garden, and a pair of flats by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. These four homes alone are thought to be among his most expensive, with conservative estimates putting them at a total value of £9million. Ed also owns five apartments in Wiverton Tower in Whitechapel worth £3.9million and a mansion in Holland Park valued at nearly £20million. The Shape of You singer has another four properties in Holland Park worth £11million, and a trendy Portobello Road restaurant called Bertie Blossoms. Daily Mail previously reported that Ed bought several Notting Hill properties to prevent complaints about 'loud music and parties'. Outside of London, the musician owns a vast £3.7million Suffolk country estate dubbed 'Sheeranville' by local villagers. After moving into a Grade II-listed farmhouse in his hometown of Framlington in 2012, Ed bought another four homes.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Ed Sheeran tribute act flies 3,000 miles to sing in Framlingham
A Canadian Ed Sheeran tribute act who took himself on a 3,000-mile (4,828 km) pilgrimage inspired by the star said he could "feel" the singer's presence in a Suffolk town. Benoit Plamondon has flown to the UK from his home in Quebec City, where he believes he is Canada's only Sheeran tribute Plamondon is staying with his friend Hayley Judge, from south London, who claims to be the UK's only female Sheeran tribute pair travelled to Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, which Sheeran wrote about in his song Castle on the Hill, where they filmed their own videos and performed his songs. "I knew him from the songs on the radio," Mr Plamondon said of how he discovered Sheeran."As soon as I saw a video of Shape of You live with the looper, I told myself I need that thing."Then I bought the single looper, the dual looper, so Ed Sheeran, you've cost me an arm and a leg." The two musicians met online a few years ago through their love of Sheeran and would regularly chat on FaceTime. Ms Judge, accompanied with a sign that read Welcome Mr Sheeran, picked Mr Plamondon up from the airport which was when the pair met in person for the first Tuesday they took a visit to Framlingham Castle."I feel like I'm in the songs now, it's amazing, we can understand everything, we can feel it," Mr Plamondon said of the area."I need to shake his hand and just say, 'Thanks man, you've made me a better performer', I need to see him one day."Ms Judge agreed it was a "special" place and felt "unreal", with both agreeing Sheeran's essence could be felt. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
