Band ready for gig of their lives at Portman Road

Ipswich band Afterdrive will play at Ed Sheeran's homecoming concert on Sunday

A band has revealed that they initially believed an email confirming their place on the line up for Ed Sheeran's homecoming gig was spam.

Four piece Ipswich group Afterdrive will be supporting the Perfect singer's Sunday concert at Portman Road this weekend, as part of the three nights of shows starting on Friday.

Sheeran also added local act Esme Emerson to the bill, with the sibling duo to perform on Saturday.

Afterdrive's lead singer Ben Watts said he was left speechless on hearing the news, adding: "We were just sat there in silence, because we couldn't comprehend what was happening."

Luke Ellis, lead guitarist, says local hero Sheeran has been "massive" for up and coming Suffolk artists

The band formed when lead guitarist Luke Ellis, bassist Ed Ruff and frontman Watts, all aged 23, attended college together in 2023.

They were joined by Ben's younger brother Joe, 19, who plays the drums.

The Watts household were in shock when they found out.

"Ben and I live under the same roof, and he ran downstairs and told me to check my phone," said drummer Joe Watts.

"We saw the message that we'll be supporting Ed Sheeran and we didn't believe it.

"We sort of sat up in his room, had a bit of a moment. We've worked quite hard to get here so it's absolutely brilliant."

Lead singer Ben Watts told BBC Radio Suffolk in 2023 that they would like to play Portman Road and play alongside Ed Sheeran - now that will happen

Ben Watts added: "From playing pubs, where we weren't getting paid, charity events where no one would turn up, we stuck at it and we've worked so hard.

"I am a bit nervous but I can't wait."

The group has amassed more than 300,000 streams on Spotify, and have developed a fan base both locally to Suffolk, across the East and in the capital.

Bassist Ed Ruff initially got in contact with Sheeran's camp by handing his management a business card as they were leaving a local event.

He said they had been inspired by Sheeran's grafting in his early years.

"He's just an icon, all over the world, but has always been a massive inspiration to us starting this band being local," he said.

"You build and build, and then get this opportunity in your home town. It makes it worth it."

A family affair: The group says they are more than just a band, but like a family

Lead guitarist Mr Ellis said the groups' bond was its strongest attribute.

"We love being in a band, this is all we've ever wanted to do," he said.

"Every band has their arguments, but we all agree on basically everything.

"It's just a really close bond."

It has been a memorable 2025 for Afterdrive, who also played a wet Ipswich Music Day, and will be representing BBC Introducing in Suffolk at the Latitude festival.

There is further local representation at Portman Road courtesy of the singer Dylan, who was supported by BBC Introducing early in her career and has since gone on to support Sheeran several times.

She will perform after Esme Emerson on Saturday.

The band joked that it would be the biggest gig of their life "so far" and they were "ready to smash it"