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Ed Sheeran Steps in to Perform at Coachella After Lineup Changes
Coachella festival organizers and attendees received a boost as Ed Sheeran has been added to the lineup. The “Thinking Out Loud” singer, aged 34, will perform at the renowned annual music festival held in the desert east of Los Angeles. His inclusion follows the withdrawal of FKA Twigs due to unforeseen visa complications, a cancellation that sparked disappointment among some fans.
Sudden Lineup Adjustments at Coachella
FKA Twigs’ Visa Issues Lead to Cancellation
FKA Twigs was compelled to cancel her Coachella appearance and subsequently axed her entire North American tour. She cited administrative delays, stating, “Production did not fill out the correct paperwork in a timely manner for us to have our visas to come to the USA and perform.”
Weezer and Ed Sheeran Join Coachella Lineup
In addition to FKA Twigs, Anitta and Gel also cancelled their appearances at the music event. Weezer was announced as a replacement performer to fill one of the gaps in the schedule. Sheeran is scheduled to perform during the second weekend of the festival, while Weezer will take the stage during the first weekend.
Ed Sheeran’s Surprise Performance and Album Promotion
King’s Cross Station Performance Delights Fans
Prior to the Coachella announcement, Ed Sheeran surprised and thrilled fans with an impromptu performance outside King’s Cross station in London. The musician, 34, sported a vibrant pink T-shirt as he performed in front of a backdrop featuring a large pink heart and the word ‘Azizam’, the title of his latest single, in white lettering.
Acoustic Set and Album Celebration
Fans were treated to an acoustic set featuring some of Sheeran’s biggest hits, including “Shape Of You,” “Perfect,” and “Bad Habits.” The King’s Cross performance was part of a promotional day across London, where Sheeran travelled on a pink double-decker bus to promote his forthcoming eighth studio album.
Humorous Exchange with Elton John Regarding Name Pronunciation
Awkward Conversation with a Music Legend
In a lighter moment during album promotions, Sheeran recounted a humorous anecdote about correcting Elton John on the pronunciation of his surname. Despite a 15-year friendship, Elton John frequently mispronounces “Sheeran” as “Sheer-an.”
Radio Interview and Name Correction
During a UK radio show interview to discuss his new single “Azizam” and upcoming album, the presenters played a clip of Elton John mispronouncing his name. Sheeran laughed and admitted to having had an “awkward conversation” with the music icon about the pronunciation.
He recounted explaining, “‘I’ve known you for 15 years, it’s not Sheer-an’,” acknowledging it was a minor, persistent issue. When a host commented on the difficulty of arguing with Elton John, Sheeran agreed, adding, “‘Well I can, I can and I do, but, but I don’t know it’s quite nice…'”
Sheeran humorously resigned himself to being “Ed Sheer-an” to Elton, comparing it to his parents always calling him “Edward” instead of “Ed.”
New Music Releases and Upcoming Album
Monthly Song Releases Leading to Album Launch
During the radio interview, Sheeran also revealed plans to release a new song every month leading up to the release of his eighth studio album, titled “Play.”
“Old Phone” Single and Album Details
Discussing “Azizam” and his upcoming music, Sheeran described the new tracks as “more of the same” but “more playful.” He previewed his next single, “Old Phone,” as a “sad, acoustic, upbeat” song scheduled for release in approximately a month. He reiterated his plan to consistently release new music monthly until “Play” is available.
“Play” Album Anticipated Later in 2025
While a precise release date for “Play” remains unconfirmed, Sheeran has indicated that his eighth studio album is expected to be released sometime in 2025. “Azizam,” the first single from the album, was launched on April 4.