It’s been a big year for Ed Sheeran so far and the good news just keeps on coming.

Not only has the young star won the Island 50 opportunity as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations (see below), but he has just come back from touring as the support act on the Just Jack tour.

Ed, who studied at the Norwich centre and then went onto the Artist Development programme at BANM said he was contacted by the Just Jack star via myspace ‘he myspaced me, said he’d love to work together, so I myspaced back saying I’d love to and we swapped phone numbers. The next thing I know, he’s asking if I can do all the dates on his UK tour!’ Just like that.

Ed has recently released an EP called You Need Me which sold out of its print run in a week. He told us that 2,000 more copies were printed for the Just Jack tour.

Ed has been hard at work all year and earlier received the attention of drum 'n' bass legend, Goldie. After seeing him play live in London, Goldie commented: ‘I was really impressed.... I think he's going to be giant.’

Ed also has support gigs lined up with FrankMusic amongst others. To listen to Ed Sheeran or buy his EP visit his website or Myspace.

 

ED & ISLAND

At the start of the year Island Records, as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations, worked with music colleges across the UK, including ATOM Music, to offer one student the chance to sign to the label for a single deal. Access to Music student Ed Sheeran is the lucky musician to be offered this exciting opportunity.

I caught up with Island A and R representative Chris McCourt to find out how tough it was choosing from so many fantastic artists and why Ed caught the record label’s eye.

After weeks of deliberation Island managed to whittle it down to 18 finalists from many different artists and bands. Chris said they had originally wanted just 10 candidates but found it too tough. The finalists then went on to perform at a 2 day showcase at the Gibson Guitars venue in London.

‘There were some really good artists. Ed played on the Thursday and he caught everyone’s attention. His skills with his loop pedals, his sound was more original, unique, fresh sounding and everyone was a bit taken aback by him.’

I also asked Chris about further opportunity for Ed working with Island ‘At the moment it’s totally open- there are a lot of songs there and we’ll be constantly listening to his new stuff…we’ll have to wait and see’

Right now the record label are working with Ed, going through his songs to see which one will be used for the single. They will make a decision in the next few weeks and then start planning the release of the single. They are at the early stages of getting to know him and are looking about what direction they could take his music. ‘Basically we’re letting him carry on doing what’s he already doing.’

Congratulations to Ed and to the other Access to Music acts which sparked interest with this infamous record label, including The Interpreters from Norwich who were shortlisted for the opportunity.