Backing Ed Sheeran ‘just playing with a friend’ says Essex band

A folk band who backed Ed Sheeran at a surprise gig said they were “just playing music with a friend in the pub”.

Fishclaw backed the star as he played some of his greatest hits during an hour-long performance in Ipswich on Sunday.

They played at short notice and did just one sound check about five minutes before playing with Sheeran at The Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich town centre.

Rory Hobbs, who plays guitar and mandolin in the band, said: “It was a bit of a risk for him, given that we hadn’t practised at all beforehand… but the faith he had in us was quite something.”

Mr Hobbs, who has been friends with Sheeran for many years, said the Shape of You star messaged him ahead of the gig to ask if he could play with them.

“It was just playing music with a friend in the pub. He is a very sound, solid, normal guy,” he said.

“Ed was good at bringing the best out of people and the crowd.

“It was nice playing in a local venue. It was spontaneous.”

Colchester-based Fishclaw have been together for the past 12 years. Alongside Mr Hobbs, Shari Statcher plays Irish whistles, Charlie Charlton plays bass and Simon Keep plays piano accordion and keys, while Pete Rowley is on drums and Jos Dow on fiddle.

Mr Hobbs said live jamming sessions were one of Sheeran’s favourite things to do.

“Events like this help remind people that music is about connection,” said Mr Hobbs.

“That is really the heart of music.”

The venue, in St Peter’s Street, has been temporarily renamed The Old Phone after Sheeran’s latest single.

The singer, who went to school in Framlingham and still lives in Suffolk, last week announced a series of three homecoming concerts at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium.

The 34-year-old star is a keen supporter of the club and a minority shareholder.