Superstar Ed Sheeran surprised children at a Scottish community centre after turning up to play his smash hits and answer their questions about music.
Shocked locals and kids couldn’t believe it when the Thinking Out Loud singer-songwriter walked into Edinburgh's West Pilton Community Centre.
The unannounced appearance was part of the launch of the new Ed Sheeran Foundation which advocates for the teaching of music in schools across the UK.
Sheeran, who sang Bad Habits as part of his set of songs and posted the performance on Instagram, said: “Love seeing the passion for music here in Edinburgh! Thanks for having us down.”
One local, who spotted the star on his way indoors, said: “I couldn’t believe it. I’m not an Ed Sheeran fan and don’t really know that much about music but with him being a big star I recognised him right away.
“I had to do a double take and when I saw the look his minders gave me I realised there was no chance of a selfie let alone an autograph.”
Wearing black jogging pants and trainers and a black jumper decorated with palm trees, Sheeran hurried into the community centre flanked by minders.
The event, organised with the help of the Tinderbox Collective, a North West Edinburgh based grass-roots youth organisation which is involved with award-winning music productions, involving an “eclectic community” of young musicians and artists in Scotland open to children and young people aged 10 – 25, from complete beginners to young professionals and all levels in between.
A photographer who lives in the area said: “I was passing by and couldn’t believe my luck when my mate who runs a shop nearby texted me to say he had heard Ed Sheeran was outside the community centre. I hightailed it over there but he was well protected.”
Sheeran’s foundation is aiming to improve access to music for more than 12,000 children and young people by providing instruments, creating performance opportunities and opening pathways into the industry.
He said music in schools has often been seen as a "doss subject" and not taken seriously, despite the music industry accounting for hundreds of thousands of jobs and bringing billions of pounds into the UK economy.
"It's something we should be proud of and championing in the UK, not sweeping under the rug," he said.
A member of staff at the centre said: “It has been hectic and everything is just being put away now. Obviously having Ed Sheeran here is a big deal.”
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