Ed Sheeran Ipswich Concert: Ipswich at its best for Ed

With Portman Road packed full with 30,000 people, it made for an amazing atmosphere as fans from across the world came together to cheer, shout and clap for the hometown hero.

The day kicked off with supporting acts Tori Kelly and Myles Smith before Sheeran took to the stage just after 8.15pm.

The stage set for Ed Sheeran's show (Image: Newsquest) A clock featuring the iconic pink that has covered nearly every inch of the town and other parts of Suffolk was the start of a 10 minute countdown.

This only added to the excitement and was met with raucous applause from the crowd.

The noise was instantly surpassed as the Shape of You singer stepped onto the stage. 

The opening number was Sapphire, a single from his upcoming album Play, with both excitement and anticipation building in the crowd.

Oli Picton and his partner at the show (Image: Newsquest) Ed then addressed the crowd at that point with his opening "Hello Ipswich!" being almost drowned out by cheering.

READ MORE: WATCH: US Ed Sheeran fan takes on our Suffolk place name quiz

What followed from then was a mix of classic Sheeran from his Mathematics tour as well as songs that, whilst still brilliant, aren't unleashed as often. 

Of course, Perfect, Shape of You, Don't and A-team, were always going to be on the setlist, but hearing I See Fire and Flying Without Wings with a special appearance from Westlife blended seamlessly.

Throughout the night Sheeran made a point of highlighting how important the town is and was to him, growing up a stones throw away in Framlingham but spending most of his youth in Ipswich.

"I have often thought about playing in this stadium, I have sat here many times and wondered how awesome it would be to play here," he said.

"We talked about doing a few shows at Wembley, but it didn't seem special, but Ipswich is and always will be special.

"The Mathematics Tour is coming to an end, a long tour of almost four years, but this is the unofficial start of a new era with Play coming later."

Ed Sheeran on stage (Image: Newsquest) In the end, the three new singles coming later this year on the new album were debuted live, which was met by a fantastic response from the crowd.

The show was also filled with emotion, with Sheeran discussing in detail, sometimes painful detail, the background to songs such as Eyes Closed and Old Phone.

Those songs deal with the rawest emotion the Suffolk singer has to offer, which was soaked up by almost 30,000 people in the stands and in the pitch.

As the sun faded, white lights became more visible, brightening up the whole stadium.

Ed Sheeran during the performance (Image: Newsquest) I have not previously had the pleasure of seeing Ed Sheeran in person, but what a first gig to see.

Speaking to fans earlier in the day who had seen him plenty of times, the sense was that after 15 years of touring, singing and breaking records, this was the show to see. 

From hearing songs that I grew up with, which the person to my right was not born when they were first released but singing along anyway to newer songs I hadn't heard until a few weeks ago, I couldn't agree more. 

Ed Sheeran represents the best Ipswich has to offer, and Ipswich brings out the best of Ed Sheeran.