Ed Sheeran added an unexpected guest to his Atlanta Loop Tour stop, inviting former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade to open the show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 3.
During the concert, Slade performed a short set featuring familiar songs including How to Save a Life and You Found Me. His appearance came amid recent changes to Sheeran’s U.S. tour support lineup, which had left some dates without a traditional opening act.
Slade also briefly addressed the conflict in Gaza during his time onstage, calling the situation wrong while encouraging people to look for common ground and allow space for differing views.
The Atlanta appearance was not the first recent collaboration between Slade and Sheeran. In August, Slade joined Sheeran during a Toronto performance for a live version of How to Save a Life.
The surprise opening set gave Atlanta fans an additional connection between two artists whose paths have crossed more than once onstage.