Summerfest Announces Fourth Marcus Amphitheater Headliner For 2015: Ed Sheeran Kicks-Off Day 9 Of Summerfest On Friday, July 3

MILWAUKEE (February 9, 2015) – Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. officials are excited to announce the fourth major show slated for the 2015 festival: Ed Sheeran at the Marcus Amphitheater on Friday, July 3. You just saw his amazing performance at the Grammy Awards. Now you can see Ed Sheeran live at Summerfest 2015!

Atlantic recording artist Ed Sheeran has announced details for his 2015 North American headlining tour. The cross country trek, produced and promoted by AEG Live & The Messina Group (TMG), will kick off at Austin's Frank Erwin Center on May 6th and includes stops at New York City's Forest Hills Stadium and the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Lost Angeles. The dates are part of Sheeran's highly successful worldwide tour which culminates with three sold out nights at London's Wembley Stadium. Additionally, Sheeran will be among the top-billed performers at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 and Rock in Rio USA in Las Vegas on May 15. For more ticket information and tour updates, please visit www.edsheeran.com.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of the acclaimed singer-songwriter's triumphant night at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, where Sheeran was nominated for 3 awards, including the prestigious "Album of the Year" for his RIAA-certified Platinum album x (pronounced 'multiply'). Sheeran's other nominations came in the categories for "Best Pop Vocal Album" and "Best Song Written For Visual Media" for his song "I See Fire" from the feature film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Sheeran also received one of the biggest ovations of the night for his performance of his RIAA-certified Platinum single "Thinking Out Loud," where he was joined for GRAMMY winners Herbie Hancock, John Mayer and Questlove. Sheeran returned to the stage to perform withthe legendary Jeff Lynne's ELO. Both x and "Thinking Out Loud" shot to #1 on iTunes immediately following his appearance.

Already proving to be one of the biggest songs of the year, Sheeran's latest single "Thinking Out  Loud" has skyrocketed to #1 on the Hot AC radio chart and #2 on Top 40. Likewise, "Thinking Out Loud" stands tall at #2 on Billboard Hot 100, earning the acclaimed singer-songwriter the highest charting U.S. single of his career so far. "Thinking Out Loud" is the third single from x following back-to-back RIAA-certified Platinum singles "Sing" and "Don't." Already a global smash, "Thinking Out Loud" has gone to #1 in 9 countries around the world, including his native United Kingdom. Sheeran debuted the single in the U.S. with high profile performances of the song on CBS' Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and the season finale of NBC's The Voicein December. The single's beautifully-shot companion music video, directed by longtime collaborator Emil Nava, has already amassed over 215 million views and features Sheeran ballroom dancing, a skill he learned through intensive, five-hour training sessions over the course of ten days during the North American leg of his worldwide arena tour.

Next up, Sheeran is among the star-studded lineup performing on CBS' Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life - An All-Star GRAMMY Salute which airs on February 16. Sheeran will return to London to perform at this year's BRIT Awards, where he's nominated for 4 awards, including Male Solo Artist, Single and Album of the Year.

Tickets for Ed Sheeran's show on July 3 go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10:00 am CST and include Summerfest admission. Tickets can be purchased at the Summerfest Box Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, Walmart stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 1.800.745.3000 (live Ticketmaster Agent) or 1.866.448.7849 (“Ticketmaster Express” automated phone line).  Patrons may also utilize “ticketfast” at Ticketmaster.com to print barcoded concert tickets from home.  Convenience fees may be added to all purchases.

PLEASE NOTE: To purchase Marcus Amphitheater tickets in person at the Summerfest Box Office on the day of the on sale, patrons must visit the temporary location at the Mid Gate on the corner of Harbor Drive and Chicago Street.  Parking will be available across the street. 

A “Stay Connected” pre-sale will be available prior to tickets going on sale to the general public for fans that subscribe to receive Summerfest News email alerts at Summerfest.com or connect with Summerfest on Facebook and Twitter.  The "Stay Connected" pre-sale for Ed Sheeran will run Thursday, February 19 from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm CST or until pre-sale inventory has been exhausted. 

Summerfest 2015 will take place June 24 - 28 and June 30 – July 5 from Noon until Midnight and will be closed Monday, June 29.  Following its 1968 debut, Summerfest has evolved into what is now recognized as “The World’s Largest Music Festival” and Milwaukee’s cornerstone summer celebration, bringing the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites along with approximately 900,000 people from Milwaukee and around the world together each year for an unforgettable live music experience.  During the festival, the spotlight shines on over 800 acts, over 1,000 performances, 11 stages, delectable food and beverages and interactive activities, all in a world-class festival setting.  Patrons can also enjoy Miller Lite, the Official Beer of Summerfest.