From Intern to Headliner: Ed Sheeran Reunites with Nizlopi for Epic Tour

Ed Sheeran, one of the most successful British musicians, is reuniting with the band Nizlopi, who inspired him when he was a teenager. Nizlopi became famous twenty years ago with their hit JCB Song, which sold over a million copies. Ed Sheeran credits Nizlopi with teaching him almost everything about performing live, from singing and playing guitar to engaging with the audience. As a young fan, Sheeran was so enthusiastic that he wrote to the band asking to join them for work experience, and eventually, he toured with them as a guitar tech. Now, Sheeran has invited Nizlopi to open for him on his upcoming European arena tour, which will include sold-out shows in Paris, Munich, Coventry, Manchester, and Dublin.

Luke Concannon, one of the members of Nizlopi, remembers Ed Sheeran as their 'work experience kid' and biggest fan. Sheeran was always in the front row at their gigs, and his dedication caught the band's attention. He says that his style of performing, including how he controls his voice and interacts with the crowd, comes from watching Nizlopi. The band and Sheeran recently talked about the release of Nizlopi's debut album on vinyl and the JCB Song. When Sheeran asked if they were doing any gigs, Concannon joked that they could open for him, and Sheeran agreed. This marks a full-circle moment, as Sheeran once opened for Nizlopi, and now they will be supporting him.

Nizlopi will perform songs from their own catalog as well as from Luke Concannon's solo album, Midnight Bloom. The JCB Song, which tells the story of a young boy and his digger-driving dad, was written in response to bullying and became a favorite at live shows. Although it only sold 600 copies at first, a touching video helped the song gain popularity, and it eventually sold 600,000 copies at Christmas. Nizlopi has continued to make music independently, and Concannon says the band is thrilled to be playing with Ed Sheeran again. He feels proud of the hard work he has put into his music and is excited to share it with new audiences. The reunion is a testament to the lasting impact that Nizlopi had on Ed Sheeran and the power of music to bring people together.