Ed Sheeran: Proud to Call Suffolk Home

The musician and composer Ed Sheeran shared his affection and sense of pride for Suffolk on the second evening of his hometown performances.

Sheeran played for three consecutive evenings at Portman Road stadium to 30,000 spectators every evening on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in Ipswich

Fans had travelled from far and wide , spending some time outdoors every day from the earliest part of the morning until reaching the front of the standing area.

On Saturday, Sheeran shared with the audience that he felt "greatly honored" to come from the region.

"Music was my path, and I knew I needed to depart from Suffolk to succeed," he stated.

I departed and explored the globe. I relocated to Los Angeles thinking that was the norm, but once I arrived, I felt completely disoriented.

I had a feeling of, what am I doing?

When I returned to Suffolk, everything seemed to fall into place, and this isn't just where I live—it's my safe haven. I experience a strong feeling of belonging here through the football club and all the activities happening in the town.

He added, "Ipswich has experienced significant highs and lows over the years, yet I am deeply proud to hail from this place and consider myself a native of Suffolk."

I am deeply honored to return and introduce this city to numerous individuals from across the globe." "I take great pride in coming back to showcase this community to people from all over the world." "It brings me immense satisfaction to be here again, sharing this place with visitors from different parts of the world." "Being able to return and present this town to global audiences fills me with tremendous pride." "I'm extremely pleased to have returned, offering this town to an international audience.

He urged the audience not to undervalue themselves as a community and expressed "how much I care for you."

'Really nostalgic'

Although the performance was significant for Ed Sheeran, it held great importance for his fans as well.

Pastor Tom Mumford, the priest at Ipswich Minster, attended two of the three shows last week.

"that was truly incredible," he stated on sunday following the last performance.

Isnt he remarkable and what an outstanding supporter of the community... Ed is an old acquaintance. He has brought honor to us.

"Absolutely thrilling": Fans share their thoughts on Ed Sheeran's return home
Ed Sheeran concert attendees spend the night outside before his shows People set up tents all through the night for Ed Sheeran concerts Crowds gather early at Ed Sheeran event locations Music lovers wait until dawn for Ed Sheeran performances Attendees sleep near venues as they await Ed Sheeran's arrival Fans arrive well before sunrise for Ed Sheeran's live events Thousands pitch their tents in anticipation of Ed Sheeran's concerts Concertgoers make an extended stay outside Ed Sheeran show sites
Pink-colored stores in Ipswich greet Ed Sheeran upon his return hometown
Celebrities who made an impact at Portman Road through the years

Associate Producer at Britten Pear Arts, Lindsey Woods, stated that the show was "truly remarkable."

"It was very sentimental, particularly when he performed tracks from his initial days," she remarked.

I was recalling the first time I watched him perform when I was 16 at Ipswich Music in the Park, and over the years, there are moments filled with recollections of your own upbringing in Suffolk.

It was incredibly comforting to be together in this place tonight. Being here tonight brought a warm, cozy feeling. There was something truly heartwarming about being in this space tonight. It was nice to share this moment with everyone tonight. The atmosphere made me feel genuinely at home tonight. I found it very pleasant to be part of this gathering tonight. Tonight’s setting created a lovely sense of belonging. Sharing this time with others felt deeply satisfying. It was reassuring to be surrounded by people in such a positive environment tonight. This experience gave me a strong sense of comfort and connection tonight.

Charlie Law, who was performing in Alderman Park on Friday before the opening night, described the event as a "remarkable experience."

Dancer Rosie May claimed it was "the greatest performance yet."

"I believed it was great since I had never visited somewhere as vast, the music was extremely loud, and there were countless people," she said.

The display of fireworks was also impressive." "The pyrotechnics were equally amazing." "The firework show was another highlight." "It was also nice to see the fireworks." "The explosive displays added to the enjoyment." "The aerial shows were just as good." "There was also an excellent fireworks presentation." "The spectacle of fireworks was enjoyable as well." "The burst of colors in the sky was delightful too." "The nighttime explosions were a treat as well.

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