u/nincyh

(Click the pink photo to access the QR code for song requests!)

Ed is playing the Rogers Centre for three upcoming shows, Thursday, Friday and Saturday! 150,000 fans over 3 nights! Ticket sales have been strong but good seats are still available for all three shows.

Here’s some handy information to help you prepare for these shows, and for other upcoming U.S. Loop shows, really, as the info is similar.

Gates open at 4:30. Rogers Centre has a reputation for long lines so allow extra time for entry.

The #1 question is: What time will Ed go on? ⏰
Set Times should look like this:
5:30 BIIRD
6:00 Lukas Graham
6:45 Myles Smith
8:00-10:45 Ed Sheeran

That’s an estimate, set times can vary by venue, noise curfew, weather delays, etc.

The #2 question is: How do I request a song?! ✍🏼
When you enter the Rogers Centre, you will see the Song Request QR code on the big pink screen (see photo). The QR code takes you to EdHQ text messages, with #LoopTourRequests already filled in. Then you can text a song -or multiple- song suggestions to EdHQ. 📲 The Request QR code is also shown between opening acts in case you arrive later, but you can set up Request messaging right now, using the handy QR code in the photo above, (click photo to expand), then just submit your songs after 4:30 the day of show even before you arrive.

The #3 question is: How does Ed choose the Surprise Songs/Fan Requests to play? ✅🧐
That’s a great question, he recently explained it to us, kinda sorta, mostly he just laughed at us.😭 Seems he uses a complex algorithm of fan input, vote tallies (nah), memories, whim, nostalgia, celestial magic and whatever special songs he feels like performing that evening. It’s not strictly a vote.🤷🏻‍♀️

If you’re wondering, the three most played Surprise Songs/Fan Requests on the Loop tour statistically have been: Lego House🏠, Tenerife Sea 🌊, and Supermarket Flowers💐, in a 3-way tie, with each song played about 14 times out of 35 shows.

Question #4: Is there a Setlist? What songs will Ed play? 📝🤔
Yes. Ed has been following a very consistent setlist for each show of the Loop tour. You can see the setlist here if you want, or avoid it if you would rather be surprised at the concert.
The three Surprise Songs/Fan Requests will vary for each show, but the main Setlist stays the same.

Here’s my Spotify Loop Tour playlist which is exactly the run of Ed’s setlist (I used Lego House and Tenerife Sea as placeholders for the fan request songs),
useful if you want to be familiar with all the songs he’ll play at your show, in actual show running order, or, for after-the-concert memories.

Question #5: Who are these opening bands? 🎻
BIIRD is an 11-member all-female Irish supergroup that Ed has worked with before. They are only playing 6 shows on the Loop tour, the first 3 in Toronto, the last 3 in the US. Very fun, high energy music.☘️
Lukas Graham is a Danish singer/group with several great hits you’ll likely recognize. He was also a Special Guest on the Mathematics tour.
Myles Smith has only four more shows with the Loop tour, before continuing his own headline tour of the US/UK/Europe to promote his new album. Sheerios seem to love Myles.
For more info and videos to learn about the opening acts, there’s a detailed post here.

Question #6: What about Merch? 👚👕
Typically, Ed’s merch trailer travels with the tour, and is parked outside the stadium on days of shows. The outdoor trailer (see photo) usually opens in the early afternoon, several hours before the gates open. That way people can make purchases and return them to their cars or hotel. There are multiple merch stands within the Rogers Centre once doors are open.

Question #7: What are the Centre’s Logistics? 🚫
See official Rogers Centre concert policies. They have a strict bag policy, bags must be 7x4x2 or smaller, they state even the typical clear plastic “concert” totes are not allowed. No outside food or drinks permitted. Limited local parking can be booked in advance from SpotHero.

What other questions do you have? What tips can you offer to the lucky concert-goers?

Have a Magical time at your show! 💕🔥♾️🎤🙌

I’ll try to keep it brief. I wasn’t there, I watched the whole thing on a live stream.
Despite slow ticket sales for this show, the stadium looked quite full and the crowd enthusiastic.

For the Surprise Songs/Fan Requests,
Ed played “Sofa”, introducing it as a song he wrote when he was 17. What he didn’t say, was how he used to introduce “Sofa” at his early shows: “This is a song about spooning and getting high.” -Ed, age 18. 😍

Then, for the 2nd request Ed played “Slowly”. Then he resumed the regular set list with “Give Me Love”, leaving some of us to wonder why he was only playing two requests tonight.🤔

But then, later in the show, in the middle of the set with Beoga, he introduced the 3rd Fan Request song, saying he’s had many, many requests for this one! Indeed he has.

Finally! Ed and Beoga played a great version of “Opening” for the 3rd request song. He’d played it three times in NZ, three times in AUS, and not ever since, until now. There has been a very active Sheerio campaign on instagram to get Ed to play “Opening” for months, maybe it worked!

Ed brought out opener Ellie Banke again to sing “Dive”, similar to the Chicago show and it was a strong duet. Boy, is that a Cinderella story.

THEN, and this was totally new and different, at the end of Beoga’s set, Ed launched into a unique 2-3 minute Irish jig type song with Beoga, I think he said they had discussed doing it backstage, but it was a spontaneous, improvised jam, and not rehearsed.☘️💚🤩 It was high energy and they were clearly having fun. Here is an improved link to view the improvised Ed and Beoga Irish jig. ☘️

Ed told his usual stories, but added a few words about sightseeing in America and places he’s been recently “road-tripping”, including Fargo, North Dakota and Minnesota.

I thought “Sofa”, “Slowly”, “Opening” and the spontaneous Irish jam made it special, but really every show is special.🤩

Remember these spunky Pigeons in Wigs?
A couple of weeks ago, I shared this whimsical birb artwork from British artist Zei M Art that I’d come across. She had just completed this hand-painted series of four colorful Pigeons in Bob Wigs (and is working on a Emo Pigeon series next🖤).

Here is a cool short video of her art process (30 sec.)

Because this Wig series received an extremely positive response here, I wanted share that I got word from the artist that the Pigeon art prints are now available (vs. the original artwork which was auctioned off).

I have no connection with the artist, just sharing the info since many people were so enthusiastic when I first posted about it. 🐦‍⬛

In this morning's fan email, “Teddy's Mailer #9" Ed outright confirms there will be a European leg of the Loop tour added for 2027. He has dropped hints and mentions over the past few weeks at shows, interviews and in last month's Loop Tour Diary video blog when he said the tour would "hit Europe at some point". But in today's newsletter, he clearly states Europe next year.

There has been a solid, longstanding rumor that Ed will be playing four nights in Berlin (and Harry Styles five nights) in Summer 2027, at the Temperhofer Feld.
I imagine a dozen other UK and European cities booking shows around that (rumor!) for the Spring and Summer.

I know I need to renew my passport, already looked up the process!🧐
What are your thoughts and dreams for dates, locations, scenarios? I am imagining a 20 date Spring and Summer Loop tour leg of UK and Europe.

I would love to attend two shows, maybe some combo of England, Ireland and Scotland. What would be your dream ticket?🎫 ✈️💶♾️💕

Watch Ed play most of Thinking out Loud at a backyard charity event in the Los Angeles area.

Edit: NEW Clip: You Need Me I Don’t Need You

A photographer has three more high quality videos on instagram that I can’t link here, click and just find the Ed Sheeran story to see them, Ed on a tiny platform in a backyard under the trees singing his hits.😲🌗🪾🎤🎸

Details are slim for now but it seems like this private show was held last night (Sunday, Aug.9), likely a fundraiser in the home of a philanthropist, to benefit Teen Cancer America and UCLA Health.

Ed often does appearances at pediatric hospitals when on tour and has been active in the Teenage Cancer Trust organization in the UK.
Just ask Noel Gallagher all about it!!!🤭

Beginning with Saturday’s show, we’ve got a change up of supporting acts. In MN, It should look something like this:

Set Times:
5:30 Ellie Banke
6:00 Lukas Graham
6:45 Myles Smith
8:00-10:45 Ed Sheeran

That’s an estimate, set times can vary by venue, sound curfew, weather delays, etc.

Ellie Banke returns for her second and final Loop Tour appearance (remember that viral video with Ed that helped get her here?) After Ellie’s last show,
The Irish 11 member all-female supergroup BIIRD will join the tour for six dates, 3 in Toronto and 3 in the US. (Here’s BIIRD and Ed having ALL the fun in a NYC Irish pub, Do Not Skip this short clip)🤩☘️

Lukas Graham will be On Loop starting Saturday for the remainder of the tour in NA through November. Ed and Lukas Graham (which is the name of the group, not the singer) sang together last year in Copenhagen as the final Special Guest of the Mathematics tour.

Sigrid has finished with the Loop tour, and Aaron Rowe has left for a month but will return mid-Sept. for the rest of the North American dates through November. Myles Smith has just five more Loop shows, and then he leaves to continue his own headline tour in the US and UK. Myles will be replaced by Macklemore.

Macklemore and Ed go way back, here’s Ed and Macklemore rapping on the Mathematics tour, 2023 and an incredible clip (is that too much hyperbole? You tell me.) of Ed covering Macklemore in 2013 on a radio challenge.🎤

Do you know who is opening on your upcoming show? The picture above has that information but if the fine print is hard on your eyes, the tour page of Ed’s official website has all that info.

Looking forward to hearing more about these upcoming openers for the shows ahead!

If I seemed quiet, it’s because I was completely b*nned from Reddit for the past 48 hours. No explanation, no recourse.😩 And then today hopefully things seem restored.🤞🏼😭 my confidence is shot though.

Ed’s going to take the stage in Los Angeles in four hours. Do you have any special predictions for LA?

- I think there will be a Special Guest. I don’t have a clue who🤷🏻‍♀️. I thought maybe Megan Moroney, but she is playing an arena in LA tonight, so she’s a little busy.

- I’m hoping for a very Cali-rap mashup when Ed sings “Don’t“. Come on, Ed, please pack it with every Cali rap song you know!
Don’t/No Diggity/California Love/The Next Episode/In Da Club would sound great, “Don’t” you think?!🎤

- Special Songs/Fan Requests related to LA? I know Ed wrote both “Kiss Me” and “Wake Me Up” while in LA. “Tenerife Sea”, “Bloodstream” and “Take It Back” were all recorded in Malibu with Rick Rubin. I’m sure there are many more songs that might strike a memory for him here.🌴☀️

What are your predictions?

Go right to this adorable video Courtney Cox just posted earlier today.💕
Looks like Ed is trying to reheat some leftover spaghetti, but is making a mess of it. Courteney asks him, “Are you really that clumsy?!” And Ed just cracks up, while dropping pasta everywhere.😭🍝

This made me think of one of my favorite Ed interviews, Lie Detector Test, in which Ed says “The kitchen is my domain. I will keep that kitchen very, very spick and span”.🤣 I believe you, Ed! I do!

Finally, I posted recently about how Ed usually stays with Courteney Cox whenever he is in Los Angeles. You can read a little more about their decade-long friendship and some of the fun hijinks they’ve gotten up to in past years.
I didn’t even touch on the gimp masks. IYKYK.

In honor of Ed returning to play in Los Angeles on Saturday, here’s video of Ed’s first ever US show in Inglewood (LA) in 2010. Plus, bonus video of Ed covering Nizlopi at 2AM in an IHOP Pancake House, and, the truth and fiction of Ed “being discovered” by Jamie Foxx.

You may know the lore. After a couple of years playing the singer-songwriter open-mic circuit in London, Ed, age 19, felt he was in a rut and needed to shake things up a bit. In early 2010, he decided to plan a one month trip to Los Angeles with a first gig set up by a friend. He funded his plane ticket off the sales of his Loose Change EP sold at gigs, and planned to sofa surf and network to find more open mic nights to perform at. (Spoiler: it all worked out.)

He arrived in LA, hosted by the friend of a friend, and on his second night there, Ed played his very first ever show in the US, at the Savoy Entertainment Theater, a small club in Inglewood, at an urban and poetry night called FlyPoet. Ed’s set went over well, watch his extended YNMIDNY with enthusiastic audience participation (and rapping). Fortunately that historic video is here for posterity.

Bonus: Late night after the FlyPoet show in Inglewood, Ed was taken to a Pancake House (IHOP🥞for you Americans), where he had his guitar at the table (as one does) and played one of his favorite Nizlopi songs, “All My Life”. But the table seriously erupted when he mashed in a little Sexual Healing. (Little could Ed imagine that a dozen years later, he would find himself in court to defend against a Marvin Gaye song plagiarism charge!)😞

After networking off the success of that initial FlyPoet show, Ed was able to play many other shows and open mic nights around LA. One of which was attended by Jamie Foxx’s manager, who invited Ed to Jamie’s SiriusXM radio show. That also crushed, so Jamie invited Ed to play his Urban Night at his club The FoxxHole. Of course Ed killed it there too. Jamie was impressed and invited Ed to stay at his house for a time and use his home studio. Jamie Foxx tells a legendary don’t-miss story about all these events, which are more than slightly exaggerated.😭
Ed has said that he wrote “Wake Me Up” while at Jamie’s, and that his first night there, he attended a costume party where Raphael Saadiq was the house band. Ed says he actually stayed with Foxx for maybe a week, but over time the story grew, and Ed’s not one to get in the way of a good story. Here’s Ed’s side of the story.

When Ed returned to London in May 2010, he was invigorated by his successful month in Los Angeles, and finally things were starting to happen. He had two newly released videos on SBTV gaining traction (YNMIDNY and The A Team), he then released two more EPs (Songs I Wrote with Amy, and Live at the Bedford DVD) and went on tour with Example (Nando’s Skank, anyone?). His viral videos on SBTV and playing more Urban/Grime nights led to the making of No.5 Collaborations Project, Ed’s final and very successful independent EP before signing with Asylum/Atlantic/Warner in early 2011 and beginning to record ➕Plus (with Jake Gosling, who had produced almost all of Ed’s EPs.)

If you made it this far, thanks! I hope you enjoyed the stories and videos!

Thanks to Martin Cox for sharing the image of Ed’s tweet. He’s an amazing resource.

Ed at the Mad Ferret in Preston, August 4, 2011 Here’s video of Ed closing his set with Firefly, (from his Loose Change EP). He moved to the back of the club so different fans would have a front row view 🤩, and had no mic, so waited (im)patiently for the crowd to quiet down.🤫 As is often the case, Ed began with a story, about writing the song in Jake Gosling’s backyard at 5AM while having a smoke and releasing an actual firefly in a jar🫙.

Fun things about this show? Check out Ed’s tweet asking if anyone going to the gig would swap him a cup of tea and a shower for a song. 🚿🙋🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️
As a former Bowie superfan (that’s a whole other story) I really appreciate the Aladdin Sane portrait on the wall.

Also, he’s obvs fantastic here, but truly on the cusp of greatness, with ➕Plus recorded and just two months from release. And yet he’s still hunting down a meal and a couch. Ed, times they are a-changin’ and no one worked harder for it.😍

Teach my skin those new tricks
Warm me up with your lips…

Do you think that Firefly is one of Ed’s best early love songs? Do you wish you were at some of his early, pre-➕gigs? Yes and Yes, I sure do.💕

(re Loose Change cover art- you probably knew, or guessed, that Ed created it himself but I thought I’d mention it since I included the picture)

Thanks for reading!

Pretty much what the title says. Here is Ed, showing us (sort of) how he reviews the song requests on his laptop and makes his choices. He laughs at some of the suggestions. I won’t spoil it. Go watch the short clip and then let’s discuss!
It’s nice to get a tiny bit of insight on this.

Here’s a New Interview where Burna Boy assures us that new music may be very imminent!!!😃
Edit: looks like that link was taken right down, did Burna Boy say too much too soon? 🤷🏻‍♀️
EDIT: THE LINK IS BACK AND LIVE - Phew, a relief.

Back to our regularly scheduled program… Links.
Of course, in addition to “Dai Dai”, the World Cup song performed by Burna Boy with Shakira and co-written by Ed, the Nigerian Afrobeats artist and Ed have worked together several times:

Stormzy’s “Own It” featuring Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran -2019

Burna Boy’s “For My Hand” featuring Ed Sheeran -2022. They also performed it live at Wembley on the Mathematics tour.

Fun links:
Hear Ed explain why he chooses Burna Boy as his new fashion consultant! No more white t-shirts?!😲

Ed comments on Burna Boy’s “smoking” habits!🤣🌱

Hear Burna Boy speak to Ed’s friendship and support. “He’s just a very sensible and lovable guy. He’s very smart. Always knows what he’s doing.”💕

Are you excited to hear there may be new music coming soon from Ed and Burna Boy? Or do you think music with Jon Bellion will come first?🤔

First, BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge in Feb. 2015: Here is Ed’s cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” (from 2002). He’d just learned it the day before, since BBC banned the song he’d planned to sing.🤬

This song is, well, hot. 🥵 It’s just a sexy song, and Ed does it justice, singing lyrics like he means it: “I wanna get dirty, sweat until my clothes come off, getting just a little naughty, sweat dripping over my body…”. Go on, Ed. And then in the middle of all that, he breaks into a funky fast rap and crushes it.🎤🔥 Best part of the song IMO. Enjoy Ed’s version of “Dirrty” on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.

Bonus #1: The story is that Ed actually wanted to play the O.T. Genasis song “I’m In Love With the Coco” as his Live Lounge cover and had fully prepared for it, but he was told the day before that the song was banned by BBC 1 for having too much drug reference. But Ed, being Ed, still really wanted to play that song, so right after he finished the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, he went downstairs to BBC Radio 1Xtra, (the “urban” rap/hip hop station where maybe they’re a little less uptight?) and he played it live on air there! 🤣 That’s right, Ed! Stick it to The Man.🖕🏼🖕🏼
You can watch Ed singing “I’m In Love With the Coco” right here.

Both songs were recorded on the same day, Feb. 24, 2015.

Bonus #2: The full recording of this Live Lounge set, of six songs, is not to be missed. It might become a favorite. The full session was online in 2015 but then vanished from YouTube for many years and wasn’t available anywhere. It recently resurfaced, so watch Ed’s cover of “Dirrty“, but then stick around for the remaining tracks, there’s great acoustic looping and some unique vocal changes to several of the songs you’ll notice. Look at that extended Don’t!👀 (and laugh while Ed comically struggles to censor the language in live time on the radio) 🤣.
This is a fantastic set exemplifying the✖️era.💚

I left in the intro and between song banter which is all kinds of adorable.💕

Full Setlist:
Dirrty (Christina Aguilera cover)
Bloodstream
Thinking out Loud
Give Me Love
I’m A Mess
Don’t w/No Diggity/The Next Episode/In Da Club

Thanks if you made it this far. I sure hope you enjoy this music as much as I do! I think Ed is at his casual finest here.💚✖️💚

Looks like Ed is sticking around California after the San Diego and Santa Clara shows, before heading to Seattle on Saturday.

EDIT: Oh! It just occurred to me that Ed’s reported new label, Interscope Records, is HQ’d in Santa Monica! Maybe he’s got meetings there this week or is ready to sign and finalize the deal! 🧐

This Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist posted this photo and said it was great having Ed stop by. I’m glad Ed takes good care of himself, and many eyes (and cameras) are on his pearly whites, whether he’s singing or smiling. 🦷🪥

Did you know that whenever Ed is in Los Angeles, he almost always stays with Courteney Cox?! They’ve been good friends for over a dozen years, and in fact Ed introduced his close friend and collaborator Johnny McDaid to Courteney Cox over ten years ago and they’ve been a couple ever since. Ed is a matchmaker!😍

Ed grew up watching Friends (on T4, right?😉) and after the 2021 Reunion of the show, he and Courteney recreated the famous Dance Routine. Clearly all that dance training for the Thinking out Loud video paid off. Watch this hilarious but impressive version of The Routine with Ed and Courteney. This took a lot of practice! 💃🕺

Lastly, another Friends reference, this is an incredible gathering of humor and TALENT. Watch Courteney snuggle her friends Elton John, Brandi Carlile and Ed around her home piano to all sing “Tony Danza”, the Friends version of Elton’s “Tiny Dancer”😭 in tribute to Lisa Kudrow. Funny and beautiful.🎹

I stumbled over Zei M Art, a British artist who appreciates whimsy in her work, and she recently created this series of Pigeons in Bob Wigs, because why not?

If you’re interested in her art process, these two short videos were fun to watch:

Creation of a complete Pigeon in a Wig portrait by hand (30 sec.)
and
How she carefully selects the birb’s colors (30 sec.)

Hope you have a whimsical day. 💐

EDIT: I just notified the artist about this post popping off and how many folks here were enjoying her work. Maybe she’ll stop by.

Ed’s old friend, mentor and colleague, Northern Irish (now Scottish) singer-songwriter Foy Vance just announced leaving Gingerbread Man Records to sign with indie label Rounder Records. See Foy explain his decision.

This is a good reminder that Ed’s Gingerbread Man Records (GMR) is actually a subsidiary of Warner Music Group/Atlantic and not truly an independent label, (sometimes called a vanity label). Foy was the second artist Ed signed to “his” label, in 2015. Now that Ed is gone, I guess it was time for Foy to leave too. This is also why it’s likely that Ed won’t release music again to GMR.

Foy and Ed go way back, Ed became a fan when he saw Foy play at a festival when Ed was 15, but they met again on a musical level around the time of ➕Plus. Ed brought him on tour for several years, starting in 2012, and they’ve written dozens of songs together, including Tenerife Sea, Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan, A Beautiful Game (won an Emmy), Hills of Aberfeldy, actually Foy has cowriting credits on ✖️➗🟰➖and AV.

Here’s two fun videos of Foy and Ed:

Foy and Ed writing Galway Girl (with Johnny McDaid, Amy Wadge and Beoga in the mix). From the fantastic Songwriter documentary released by Ed’s cousin Murray Cummings in 2018, this was probably filmed in 2016. This whole film may be my favorite Ed video of all time.

And,

Guiding Light: Ed always loved this song by Foy. When Ed truly “broke America” in 2013, and sold out 3 nights at Madison Square Garden, he had Foy as a special guest to play Guiding Light on the final night. (Taylor was the guest on the 2nd night!)

Anyway hope some of you made it through and found it interesting! Thanks for ▶️Playing 💕
I wish Foy Vance much success with Rounder Records! 💚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☘️

That’s a famous VIP pigeon right there. I don’t know if it interrupted the football (soccer) game, but it certainly stole the show!

Show is ongoing but we had:

The City With very long and adorable waffling intro at the beginning of the video.

Shirtsleeves!!! (Only ever played once, at the ✖️anniversary show) Full song with intro, great quality recording!

Take It Back/Superstition/Ain’t No Sunshine!!!
That old mashup gem from the ✖️Multiply tour pays a visit! Another amazing quality video from so close up. Ed’s crushing it here.

Edited to update song links! 💕♾️🔥📸

I just saw this and thought some might be interested!

Pigeon Religion (2026) is an independently released feature film documentary which premiered one month ago in New York City.

The 1-hour and 24-minute feature follows eight dedicated New Yorkers—including bird advocate "Mother Pigeon"—whose lives and livelihoods revolve around caring for the city's urban pigeons.

Pigeon Religion introduces a diverse group of New Yorkers united by their devotion to pigeons, unfolding through three intersecting worlds: Caretakers, Hustlers and Flyers. Learn more about the film here