Ed Sheeran Credits Nizlopi with Shaping His Live Performance Style, Announces European Tour Support
A formative relationship with the folk duo Nizlopi, dating back to Sheeran’s teenage years, has culminated in the band being selected to open for his upcoming European arena tour.
Two decades after topping the charts with their breakout hit “JCB Song,” Nizlopi is poised for a remarkable reunion with a global superstar. Ed Sheeran has personally invited the band to support him on his highly anticipated European tour, acknowledging their profound influence on his own musical development. Sheeran has repeatedly stated that Nizlopi essentially taught him “basically every aspect of my live set.”
The story began when a 14-year-old Sheeran became a dedicated fan after witnessing a performance by the band, originally from Leamington Spa, at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire. He quickly transitioned from audience member to active participant, persistently seeking opportunities to learn from the duo. “He was writing to us a lot asking if he could come and do work experience, and eventually we were like yeah, you can come on tour basically as a guitar tech,” recalled a member of Nizlopi.
This early mentorship blossomed into a full-circle moment, as Sheeran himself would later open shows for Nizlopi. “And now it’s come full circle,” the band member added. The upcoming tour will see them perform at sold-out dates across Europe, including Paris, Munich, Coventry, Manchester, and Dublin.
The invitation stemmed from a casual conversation about the upcoming vinyl release of Nizlopi’s debut album, Half These Songs Are About You, and their signature song, “JCB Song.” “He asked if we were doing any gigs around it… and I said yep, but he was in New York,” the band member explained. “I said, well, you know, we could bring the music to you and open some shows for you, and he was like, ‘really? Would you?’ And we were like, yeah, if you push us we’ll come on an arena tour with you.”
“Ed was our intern, our work experience kid, he was our biggest fan,” the band member continued, reflecting on Sheeran’s trajectory to becoming “the most successful British live musician of all time.” Sheeran’s admiration for Nizlopi is further evidenced by his selection of their track “Flooded Quarry” as the song he would save on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 2017. He explained at the time that he was “always front row at the gigs, and after a while they just started noticing me.”
The impact of Nizlopi extends beyond performance technique. Sheeran credits the band with shaping his stage presence, vocal control, guitar playing style, and even his use of beatboxing.
December marks the 20th anniversary of “JCB Song’s” improbable rise to number one. The song, inspired by a five-year-old Luke Concannon and his digger-driving father, initially sold only 600 copies. However, a shareable video, released before the widespread adoption of platforms like YouTube and Facebook, ignited its popularity. “When we re-released it at Christmas all the doors were opening, because so many people had been sharing it,” a band member explained. “And from a totally independent band with no major record label, all run from one room in my parents’ house, it sold 600,000 copies that Christmas.”
Alongside their performances with Sheeran, the band will also showcase music from Luke Concannon’s solo album, Midnight Bloom. The band members expressed their excitement about the opportunity, stating that Nizlopi “has got a lot to give” and that they are eager to share their music with a wider audience. “I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into my record and I’m excited to be able to share those songs too.”
