Teacher Flies Home Early for Surprise Performance
A music teacher, Lianne Kaye, 30, from Chelmsford, Essex, cut short her holiday and flew back from Malaga, Spain, after only two days to perform at a surprise gig alongside Ed Sheeran. Despite a delayed flight and sleep deprivation, she took part in the event on 5 June at Ipswich Waterfront.
Fans gathered in large numbers for the pop-up gig, which Ed Sheeran had teased the night before on Instagram, attracting hundreds eager to see the singer from Framlingham, Suffolk.
"It was honestly unbelievable... I didn't know that was going to happen until on the day, we sort of figured it out the evening before."
Sheeran, returning to Suffolk after spending nine months in the US, expressed his happiness to be back in the area. On his Instagram story the night before the event, he posted:
"Ipswich! 9am tomorrow at the waterfront, see you there x."
Preparation and Surprise Realization
Kaye, originally from Holbrook, Suffolk, revealed she had been contacted weeks earlier by a manufacturer who organised the gig and wanted to support emerging songwriters and artists.
She recalled the moment she realised she would be performing with Sheeran while waiting at the airport during a flight delay. Her best friend sent a screenshot to their group chat showing Sheeran's Instagram story about the Ipswich gig. She said:
"I was sat in the airport and my flight was delayed. My best friend sent a screenshot to our group chat and it was Ed [Sheeran] he put on his stories he was going to be in Ipswich and she was like 'I don't think you're going to be on your own'. That's when the penny dropped."
Career Highlights and Performance Experience
Kaye has performed at BBC Introducing Suffolk and was an opening act for Sir Tom Jones at Colchester Castle Park last year.
Sheeran, now a household name, began his career busking in Ipswich and performing to small audiences in local pubs.
Reflecting on the experience of performing with Sheeran, Kaye described it as:
"Jamming with a mate."
She expressed her passion for music and teaching, stating:
"I love what I do so I'm just really, really lucky I'm able to teach and do music all the time and share my songs and my passion."
Additional Information
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