A Suffolk man came back home this week after a nine-month absence while he was working in the US. One of his first actions on returning was to get a curry from his local Indian restaurant, then, today, he went back to work. So far, so normal. The man, however, is quite probably the most famous male pop artist in the world today, which gives the game away.
Ed Sheeran went back to work by having an impromptu concert on the Ipswich waterfront this morning, yards away from my office, and what a day for me to be working from home. Oh well, my colleagues saw him and took plenty of photos and videos which they’re happy for me to share with you.
Since living in Suffolk, I’ve had a connection with the local music scene. My mother’s cousin was married to Nik Kershaw, and friends of mine still play in the few music venues left – sadly, in my 25-year tenure here a lot of them have closed down.
Two of my friends used to be organisers of Ipswich Music Day – now, the largest free one-day music festival in the UK – and, as such, were on the committee who decided the acts in 2009. They decided to take a punt on a young lad – still only 18 – who’d grown up in Framlingham. A year later, he played at the festival again:
and he also played support for a friend’s band at the Steamboat Tavern in Ipswich.
Everyone I know who’s met him says what a lovely guy he is.
So far, so anodyne. I get it.
The point is: he doesn’t have to be as loyal to his roots as he is. He doesn’t have to generate £10m for the local economy by playing concerts at Portman Road last year. This is a man who has sold 17 million tickets for his concerts in less than 10 years, making him one of the most successful performers in history. He’s sold over 200 million records.
And he just played for free on Ipswich waterfront because he’s glad to be back home. No other reason; and he had support from a local artist and music teacher, not because he needs support on stage, but to try and spread the fame onwards.
I have to be honest – his music didn’t immediately grab me. However, when I saw him on TV playing Glastonbury, I was blown away by the fact that he was on stage on his own. Just him and a loop machine; to the uninitiated, this means he creates the backing for each track, live, then performs it. There is nowhere to hide when you do that, no other musician on stage to help out if you get it wrong. Just you and tens of thousands of people watching you play; which is how it was when I attended one of the Portman Road concerts last year.
And oh! to hear someone talking with such pride and love about where they live, especially when (like me) he wasn’t actually born here. And to “big up” Ipswich, and Ipswich Town Football Club.
I’m in love; because everything seems to indicate that here is someone not ruined by fame. Someone who wants to give back to the community he came from, to stay loyal to it, to stay, in every sense of the word, grounded.
I just hope next time he plays I get to see him. Give that man the freedom of Ipswich, because he’s the son of the town we can – and should – all be proud of.
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