On Sunday night, during the final show of his sold-out three-night run at Portman Road in Ipswich, Ed Sheeran stunned the crowd by debuting a completely new, never-before-heard track titled “Slowly.” The emotional ballad will be featured on his upcoming album Play, set to release this September.
Before performing the song, Sheeran smiled and humbly told the audience:
“This is a brand new song — probably only 30 people have heard it before. I might mess it up, but you know, we’re all friends here.”
“Slowly” was just one of many surprises Sheeran had in store for fans during this unforgettable homecoming series at the stadium of his beloved Ipswich Town Football Club.
On Friday’s opening night, the crowd was treated to a jaw-dropping moment when Sheeran brought out legendary band Westlife for a live duet of Flying Without Wings — a performance that had fans screaming, singing, and tearing up all at once.
It’s estimated that over 90,000 fans attended the three nights of shows, making this one of the biggest musical events the region has ever seen and a defining moment in the Framlingham-born artist’s career.
Notable figures in attendance on the opening night included Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton, first-team manager Kieran McKenna, and members of both the men’s and women’s squads — all proudly showing their support for their local superstar.
Outside the venue, the excitement was just as intense. Thousands of fans arrived early to queue for standing-room access, hoping to secure the closest view possible of Sheeran in what many called “the most meaningful concert of the year.”
With unreleased songs, surprise guest appearances, and a heartfelt connection to his roots, Ed Sheeran didn’t just perform at Portman Road — he made history. For three magical nights, the stadium wasn’t just a concert venue — it became a cathedral of music, memories, and homegrown pride.
