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Ed Sheeran s young talent in surprise gig

Victoria Scheer & Peter Reed
BBC News, Yorkshire
Reporting fromSheffield
BBC Three men stand in front of a DJ mixer with people gathered behind them. Ed Shearan, on the left, has short ginger hair and is wearing a white t-shirt with black trim markings. Next to him is a young man with a microphone in his left hand and on the far right is a man wearing a grey and red hoody with his hands on the mixing table.BBC
Ed Sheeran came to Sheffield to DJ AG and music group TRACKS

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran thrilled hundreds of fans with a surprise outdoor gig in Sheffield on Sunday.

The Halifax-born pop star appeared alongside TikTok sensation DJ AG in of TRACKS - a group that helps young people break into the music industry.

It comes after the Shape of You star announced in February that his foundation would award the group three years of funding.

Youngsters performing alongside the seasoned artists said it "meant the world" and hoped it would help launch their careers.

London-based AG is known to draw big names for his impromptu performances, which he announces at short notice on his social media channels.

He said giving young talent a platform was "extremely important" to allow them "to shine".

A man stands in a street, wearing a red coat with the letters "AG" on his chest. He holds up his hand in a peace sign.
DJ AG hosted an outdoor music event in Sheffield on Sunday, which saw Ed Sheeran perform

He said: "It's not about me, I'm just a facilitator showcasing talent, trying to help, do my part, giving it everything and hopefully everyone had a good time."

The event also saw TRACKS release their new single called Spotlight, from seven of their students.

Ed Sheeran performs surprise gig in Sheffield

TRACKS performers Max, 16, and Jayden, 13, said ing Sheeran and AG made them feel like part of the music community.

"It was insane, words cannot describe how good it was, it was just mad," Max said.

"You get nervous at the start when you are with big people like this, but it actually feels quite good to be doing this," Jayden added.

"I was so excited. I've never met him in person before and he's one of the nicest persons I've ever met and I mean that from the deepest point of my heart."

Two young boys stand in front of a crowd. They are pointing at each other, each of them wear a yellow wristband.
Up and coming artists Max and Jayden said Ed Sheeran was "so ive"

TRACKS, a collaboration between Sheffield Music School and Sheffield Music Hub, was awarded funding from the Ed Sheeran Foundation earlier this year.

The group's music facilitator Louis Barclay said the money would help fund a youth club and more alternative provision for young people in the area.

"It started with Ed visiting TRACKS and seeing what we do," he said.

"I think he just felt the ethos of what we do and saw it was something he wanted to ."

A man stands in a square, surrounded by people. He is wearing a black hoodie and a fleece coat.
Louis Barclay, music facilitator at TRACKS, said funding from the Ed Sheeran Foundation would 'go a long way'

Onlooker Kim Simpson, who has been following Sheeran's career since his early busking days, said she hoped the gig would give the north "a little bit more of a name" and get young people involved in the city's music scene.

"What he is doing, getting young rappers out performing, ing them to bring on a new generation of musicians - it's perfect to come and watch," she said.

At the scene: Victoria Scheer, BBC Yorkshire reporter

When I arrived outside Sheffield Town Hall on Sunday evening, a small but curious crowd had gathered around a lone DJ playing a set.

"What is this about?," people murmured.

Soon, the crowd began to swell as rumours spread that a 'big name' was about to appear.

Some could not quite believe it, with one woman exclaiming: "Ed Sheeran, here? Are we talking about the same Sheffield":[]}