He was joined by his friend Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol as he surprised young NI musicians on Friday

Ed Sheeran returned to Northern Ireland on Friday and not to play his usual sold-out concerts.

The world-renowned musician and singer-songwriter made a surprise visit to Belfast as part of the UK-wide launch of his new charity, The Ed Sheeran Foundation.

The Ed Sheeran Foundation is an initiative committed to addressing inequalities in music education by supporting state schools and grassroots music organisations, particularly in underserved areas.

Through providing access to instruments, creating performance opportunities, and opening pathways into the music industry, the foundation ensures that every young person has the chance to explore their potential through music.

The Foundation will support three local music organisations – Drake Music Northern Ireland, Hotbox Entertainment and the Oh Yeah Music Centre.

Accompanied by Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody on his visit, Ed spent time meeting young participants in the organisations’ music programmes.

He joined in with a band rehearsal and took part in a Q&A with aspiring gig promoters and producers.

Ed commented: “Music education has shaped who I am. I’ve always enjoyed playing music, and it’s led to some of the best moments of my life.”

Music education in the UK faces significant challenges, with varying needs across regions, schools, and age groups.

While the UK music industry contributed a record £7.6 billion to the economy in 2024 (source: UKMusic.org), disparities still remain in terms of access to music education.

A survey published in 2019 by the record industry trade body, BPI, revealed that one in four schools serving disadvantaged communities offer no music lessons at all.

Gary Lightbody who has been a long term champion for NI music through his own Foundation and as one of the founders of the Oh Yeah Music Centre highlighted the challenges facing the arts in NI and welcomed Ed’s support.

He said: “Music and the arts are badly underfunded in Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland government spends the equivalent of £25 per capita on the arts; Wales spends £10 per capita; Northern Ireland only spends £5 per capita.

“As a result, access to music education here is miles below where it should be. Furthermore, Northern Ireland is often excluded from British arts initiatives.

“That’s why it’s so significant that Ed has expanded to include Northern Ireland in his Foundation work. I’m genuinely excited about what this means for music in the UK as a whole, and, on a personal level, I’m particularly encouraged by what it could mean for Northern Ireland.”

During his time in Belfast, Ed also met with Darren Canmore, Head of Music at the Education Authority, along with music teachers from three post-primary schools to discuss music education opportunities and challenges for students in NI.

The meeting took place at Matchetts Music, where he also made a donation of guitars.

The Ed Sheeran Foundation has already inspired local organisations to step up their efforts, with Shine Promotions committed to contributing towards the purchase of instruments.

Alan Simms, CEO of Shine who runs Belfast venue The Limelight said: “I’ve had the privilege of working with local musical talent in Northern Ireland for over 30 years, and it’s incredible to see the breadth of musicians from this country that are now projecting influence internationally.

“Providing opportunities for breaking acts is an essential cornerstone of our business, and I believe it helps in a small way to contribute to a vibrant and exciting artistic ecosystem.”

Michelle McCormack, CEO of Drake Music Northern Ireland said:“We are delighted to have been joined by Ed Sheeran during one of our songwriting workshops today.

“Our musicians who participate regularly with Drake Music NI using adapted and bespoke instruments thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with Ed as a singer songwriter.

“We are all very excited for the impact that the generous donation from the Ed Sheeran Foundation will make for our plans to support aspiring musicians, as we celebrate ability and creativity across Northern Ireland in our workshops and ensembles. Our workshops are recruiting now for new musicians to join us!”

James Ayo of HotBox Entertainment said: “Thanks to the generous donation from Ed Sheeran’s Foundation, we will be supporting 30 artists through the creation of a new mixtape and offering another 20 artists the opportunity to showcase their talent through live sessions in a fully equipped facility.

“Additionally, we are organising an award show to celebrate young talent, lift their spirits, and combat feelings of depression, and a lack of opportunity.”

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Music Centre added:“The funding of the arts in Northern Ireland is at an all-time low and the cost of living is not getting any easier, so to have this support from Ed Sheeran is incredible.

“Music education is a vital part of a child’s development and we want to ensure that we can play a part in supporting young people that may face barriers to get involved in music.

“Thanks to the Ed Sheeran Foundation we will be able to provide 100 young people with access to music that will include instruments, mentoring, tuition and performances. We aim to incorporate existing projects, as well as working with our partners and will be engaging with schools as part of this.”