Ed Sheeran Ipswich concert: Pretty in pink for Suffolk star

Sheeran will kick off his three nights at Portman Road tonight, with Myles Smith, Tori Kelly and Aaron Rowe also on the bill.

Ahead of his performances, which will see 90,000 people descend on Portman Road across three night, the county has been showing their support for the Framlingham-raised singer, with Ipswich turning pink for Sheeran's new Play album and to celebrate his homecoming

The Town Hall has turned pink for Ed's concerts (Image: Lucy Taylor) Pink bunting has gone up in the town centre (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Ed Sheeran will perform at Portman Road (Image: Petros Studios)

An initiative started by Ipswich Central, they encouraged the town to go pink, with lots of businesses following suit.

The Willis Building turned pink, along with other historical Ipswich landmarks, including the Town Hall, the Old Custom House on the Waterfront and Christchurch Park.

Grass verges outside the Novotel have been painted pink and grass in Christchurch Park has also been painted pink.

The Willis Building lit up in pink (Image: Shikhar Talwar) Pink has been painted on grass verges (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Pink plaques have also gone up around the town at various points, with a bit of history of Sheeran at those places.

The Town Hall has a plaque stating he played a surprise gig on the steps of the hall in October 2022,The Thomas Wolsey pub, which has become The Old Phone over the weekend, to celebrate his performance at the pub at the start of May and the music shop where he bought his very first guitar.

Pubs have also been preparing in Ipswich for the weekend, with one saying they predict it to be like the Premier League promotion day times three.

The Thomas Wolsey, now The Old Phone for the weekend, has been busy painting (Image: Lucy Taylor) The Thomas Wolsey, now The Old Phone for the weekend, has been busy painting (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The stage up in Portman Road (Image: Oli Picton)

Areas of Framlingham, Sheeran's hometown, have also turned pink, with the library displaying pink books in its windows.

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said: “When a global megastar comes home to perform it’s time for the whole town to come together and celebrate.

"We asked the town to turn pink as a ‘Welcome Home Ed’ party and so many businesses have answered this call, entering the pink shop window competition, displaying Welcome Home Ed posters, fringe events, special offers on pink drinks and lighting their buildings pink for the weekend."

One of the plaques in Ipswich on the Town Hall doors (Image: Lucy Taylor) St Elizabeth Hospice in Framlingham has decorated its window pink (Image: Lucy Taylor) Huntingfield Estates in Framlingham has decorated its window (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Dial Lane Books is offering a discount on pink books and there is to be a big fanzone on the Cornhill.

A giant screen and live music from Suffolk Sound, who will broadcast from the centre on all three days.

Murals have gone up around the town of Sheeran, with one being painted in Buttermarket shopping centre and another in the Tower Street Food Hall.

Seven has gone pink (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Will Hamer of Threads for All has decorated his shop window (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The stage has gone up in Portman Road ahead of the shows, with preparations being done over the last week in anticipation.

Tonight marks the first of his three performances at Portman Road, with a showcase of Suffolk music coming to the stadium on Saturday night.

Kicking off the music is brother and sister duo Esme Emerson from Ipswich, who said it was "really special" to be picked to open for him.

Esme Emerson will perform on Saturday, July 12 (Image: Tom Cann) AFTERDRIVE will take to Portman Road on Sunday, July 13 (Image: Lucy Taylor) Charlie Simpson is from Woodbridge (Image: PA)

Performing after them is Dylan, who grew up in Bures and said "Suffolk massive" after finding out she would be performing before Busted, with singer Charlie Simpson coming from Woodbridge.

On Sunday night, opening the night is AFTERDRIVE, who said they couldn't believe it and had to "double check" when they heard they were going to support the star.