Having been a fan since the release of “Lego House” and even dancing to “Thinking Out Loud” at my wedding, I was super stoked to see him live. All the anticipation and stress of getting into the stadium just melted away as he belted out his opening track. At that moment the realisation of how great a performer he is, struck home and a whole new level of admiration grew inside me. Here are five little titbits of why this was an unforgettable night:
Sheeran shared tales of his struggle as a small-time musician doing weekday house gigs in South London (sharing the fact that his audience there was predominantly South African.)
This redhaired man stood alone on the stage with nothing but a guitar, a mic and a loop generator and created every sound he wanted us to enjoy. This was true artistry (almost magic) at work.
To aid in visibility for all in attendance, the obligatory ‘TV’ screens were present, but this rig was some other beast of modern visual spectacle. Multiple screens with eye-catching graphics, as eclectic as Sheeran, made sure all eyes were squarely focused on the stage.
Although this was a stadium venue and you were surrounded by a large crowd of screaming fans, his energy captivated you and when he asked you to participate, it felt like he was in your lounge performing just for you (and you had to heed the call). Side note here – the moment he got the crowd to light up the stadium by cellphone flash to the sweet lyrics of “A-Team” was a truly ubuntu feeling.
Yes, this was the little treat he dropped on us close to the end of the show. Look, it is not an unknown fact that he dabbles in the art of “the rap verse” as he does it in a number of songs, but seeing him do it live is something else. There is this look of pure joy and almost childish mischievousness that adorns his face and you can’t help but listen closely to catch the humorous prose.
Truly a night for the books. These moments came together to create an unforgettable memory that will be forever edged in my mind.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour is the third world concert tour and officially began on 16 March 2017, in Turin, Italy. It is set to end on 26 August 2019, in Ipswich, England.
