'Check out some of the incredible young talent': Ed Sheeran launches Belfast grassroots music project with Fleadh show of 50 kids performing at city hall
He may love the shape of you, but Ed Sheeran’s also a major fan of grassroots music in Belfast – launching his charity foundation here with a high-profile show involving 50 kids.
Taking place as part of the all-Ireland Fleadh next week, the show brings together young people from Northern Ireland’s capital city with counterparts from Cork, hitting the grounds of Belfast city hall to premiere a series of collaborative musical fusions developed through workshops on both sides of the border.
The opening act of the Ed Sheeran Foundation across the entire island of Ireland, the gig is also the first salvo of a programme called North South Sounds 2026, which will stage a number of youth-led concerts in both Belfast and Cork over the next six months.
Other strands of the project include non-residential summer camps in both cities, which will expand its reach to an additional 100 young people while providing a safe environment for community building.
Said Ed: “I’m so happy to be bringing the Ed Sheeran Foundation to Ireland.
“I’ve spent loads of time in the country over the years. Having family roots there, it’s a place that’s always been special to me. Every child should have the opportunity to learn and take part in music, and we’re continuing our work to help make that a reality.
“The first project kicks off at the Fleadh on Monday; I played the festival last year [in Wexford] and have such fond memories of it. If you’re there, go and check out some of the incredible young talent.”
The programme is guided by the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports music education across the UK, with Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre and Music Generation Cork City.
The foundation says it will champion creative curiosity by encouraging young musicians to blend influences and genres, merging elements of traditional Irish and folk music with other genres such as hip-hop, pop, and rock to generate something entirely fresh.
Said a spokeswoman: “Connecting young people with peers from different areas, it will celebrate local heritage, social inclusion and self-expression, engaging young people who might otherwise lack access to music creation, instrumental tuition and performance opportunities.”
Launched by the ‘Thinking Out Loud’ hitmaker in January of last year, the Ed Sheeran Foundation supports music education in state schools and grassroots organisations, particularly in areas where it is less accessible.
It has already taken the singer-songwriter from the top of the charts to the heights of power, as earlier this month the foundation was revealed to be involved in designing the UK government’s ‘Music in Libraries’ project.
Indeed, the entire £12.5m initiative was inspired by Ed and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy visiting ‘Brighten The Corners’ a not-for-profit live music and youth arts organisation in Ipswich in 2024, the government has said.
The project aims to strengthen music education outside of school by creating dedicated spaces in libraries for music-making, workshops, studio equipment and live performances.