Any Ed Sheeran fans out there? Thought so. It’s unlikely most of us can make it though the day without hearing a song by Ed Sheeran on the radio. He sells out stadiums around the world and it feels like he has got there in the blink of an eye. He’s a superstar now, mixing with the movers and shakers of Hollywood so when I was asked to photograph him in a 300-capacity venue in Camden Town, I jumped at the chance!
I have been helping at the Irish Centre in Camden for a year or so now, doing their headshots and images for their brochures. It’s a wonderful organisation full of the traditional Irish welcome and spirit. I’m a born and bred Londoner of Irish descent so understand the importance of a place such as the LIC to bring together and help a community of Irish in London that still exists, albeit in smaller numbers now. They have a fantastic team there, ready to help with anything and they hold lovely events open to everyone. The Ed Sheeran event was one of them but this time it was exclusively to raise much needed funds to keep the charity going.
An email dropped into my inbox a few weeks before the event. It was an exclusive ticket only gig and with only a few hundred available, they were like gold dust. I figured the photography would be all sewn up what with Ed Sheeran having his own special team, so you can imagine how delighted I was when they asked little old me to come and take some pictures for the centre.
It was really good fun. I got to say a quick hello to both him and Dermot O’Leary (swoon!) who is also a patron of the charity and from there on in it was a who’s who with comedians, politicians, presenters and actors including a very last-minute entrance from Courtney Cox.
After an audience with competition winners, there was an interview and a live set from both Ed Sheeran and special guests he had invited along followed by some DJ sets from Annie Mac and Sara Cox.
All in all, it was a brilliant event raising £250,000 for a wonderful charity. Cheers Ed!