A Highland Perthshire town could be about to become a household name thanks to a new song by superstar artist Ed Sheeran.
The acoustic tune ‘The Hills of Aberfeldy’ will feature in his sixth studio album ‘Subtract’, which releases on May 5.
The five-time BRIT Award winner said he spent a decade working on the album and completed it after a series of difficult events at the start of 2022.
Wife Cherry was diagnosed with a tumour and after the death of his close friend Jamal Edwards, Ed said he ‘spiralled’ through fear, depression and anxiety.
He has visited Aberfeldy on many occasions over past few years and will highlight his affection for the area in his new song.
He spent the some downtime in the area 2014 and performed an impromptu gig at the Breadalbane Arms to local fans’ delight.
The singer-songwriter, who has sold over 150 million records, was 22 at the time and stepped up when the 10-piece band, The Victorian Trout Conspiracy, were playing the Aberfeldy watering hole and asked if he could join in with them.
That same weekend he went to other local pubs, including the Black Watch, where for a few minutes he played with his friend, Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance.
The buddies left when word got out and fans began filling the bar to capacity.
In summer 2018 the Galway Girl singer took a group of friends to the nearby Loch Tay Marina and booked out the complex for a serene getaway.
He also cheered on friend Vance during a performance at the Black Watch Inn in December 2019.
Speaking to the PA’s parent paper the Daily Record in 2017, the singer admitted he had written a Scottish folk song in the style of the massively successful ‘Galway Girl’ about having a holiday in Highland Perthshire, which is now set to be revealed to the world.
At the time he revealed: “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 showed his affection for the area after getting the Aberfeldy whisky label tattooed on his arm.
The songwriter explained his link with the spirit distilled in Perthshire: “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!”
