A SCOTTISH town immortalised by Rabbie Burns is due a new burst of fame after global hitmaker Ed Sheeran also penned a song about it.
The English pop singer’s upcoming – (“subtract”) album will close with a tune about the Highland village of Aberfeldy, according to the newly released tracklist.
“The Hills of Aberfeldy” will be the 14th and final track on the standard release of the album (cover shown above). It was produced and co-written by Aaron Dessner of the US rock band The National.
Burns’s “The Birks of Aberfeldy” – written about the birch tree forests around the Perthshire town – first put the place on the literary map after it was published in 1788.
Sheeran has reportedly visited the town on multiple occasions, including booking out the nearby Loch Tay Marina in 2018 for himself and a group of friends.
He has also been spotted playing impromptu gigs at some of the pubs in the area.
In 2017, Sheeran said he had written a song about holidaying in Aberfeldy for his 2017 album ÷ ("Divide"). However, it was squeezed off the track list.
He told the Daily Record at the time: “I wrote a Highland folk song called Aberfeldy that was due to go on this album but didn’t make it.
“It was a bit too folky for this one but it will go on the next one. Or on a film soundtrack. It’s about being on holiday in Aberfeldy.”
Sheeran, known for his eclectic collection of tattoos, has one of a label from a bottle of Aberfeldy whisky.
He told the Record in 2017: “You can go to any Scots or Irish bar in the world and they have a bottle of Aberfeldy.
“I was in a bar in Germany and the barman had it – I showed him the tattoo and he gave me a free shot!”
The - album is due to be released on May 5.
