REVIEW: Ed Sheeran at Chantry Park, Ipswich

Ed Sheeran's love for Suffolk was evident at his Friday show at Ipswich's Chantry Park (August 23).

After opening his first Ipswich homecoming gig with Castle on the Hill, a homage to the singer's home town Framlingham, he exclaims: "It's great to be home, this is wicked."

Armed with just a semi-acoustic guitar and a loop station, he mesmerised the 45,000 fans with a setlist of both old and new songs, including the lead single of his debut album + The A Team.

"This feels really weird and cool to be on stage and perform in a place I was brought up," said Sheeran, whose record-breaking Divide world tour started in March 2017.

"I did the typical musician thing and moved to L.A. and hated it. But I have been living back in Suffolk for the last seven years, I just love being here."

For the wistful ballade Tenerife Sea, a song he described as one of his favourites to play live, he asked the crowd to hush, which they happily did for the singer's impressive vocal range.

Throughout the evening, the 28-year-old was charming, confident and managed to make Chantry Park feel like an intimate setting despite the masses of people present.

"I got a few complaints that I no longer sing any of my older songs," said Sheeran, before playing Lego House, Kiss Me and Give Me Love.

"So here is a mashup."

Sheeran also commented on the ongoing trend of people using his songs for their weddings and in fact, whilst he was performing Perfect, fans bore witness to a marriage proposal.

One can only speculate what their wedding song is going to be.

Time flew by and the 105 minute-long set ended with You Need Me, I Don't Need You.

Truth be told, we really do.