LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Ed Sheeran - +our

Although the rain came in small dosages, it was not enough to dampen the crowd that had been waiting to see the beloved ginger live in concert. Rachel and I got to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and the line for the floor area was already arching its way towards Hay Street. But the night was not about the wet weather, it was simply about a different kind of rain – the pouring down of cheers, (at times) tears and ultimately, incredible music.

Guest Reviewer – Getting to Know Rachel

 Moi and the Lovely, Rachel

I've been an Ed Sheeran fan for two marvelous years. I love all of his songs, but I think my absolute favourites are: Wake Me Up, Kiss Me and Lego House. I can't choose between the three there is something about each song that I find extremely beautiful. If I met him in real life, I would tell him how much I truly love his music.

The Venue – Sydney Entertainment Centre

I mentioned in my video that I was a little shocked that Ed was playing at such a large-scale arena rather than an intimated theatre setting that I had imagined. Regardless of my thoughts, Sheeran blew my expectations and showed everyone in the arena that it didn’t matter the scale of the venue, the music and the atmosphere is just as good – maybe even better.

I have to say, ‘Kudos!’ to the security at the centre for their vigilance in keeping everyone on the floor hydrated, safe and well controlled.

(NB: Guys, if the centre security is telling to move back and stop being silly please listen and obey them. They’re doing it for your safety, rather than ruining the fun.)

* Rachel’s Thoughts: I thought the venue was relatively okay. It would of been better if it was smaller – more intimate – but he brought the album to life and involved the audience. *

The Support Acts – Gabrielle Aplin and Passenger (aka. Mike Rosenberg)

The support acts undoubtedly set the mood for the show, and for Ed’s chosen acts, I have to say, they definitely set an incredible vibe for everyone in the lead up to Ed’s set.

Gabrielle Aplin started the night beautifully with her simple acoustic set that left the crowd speechless at times. Unfortunately, she had to stop mid-song to remind the crowd to calm down a bit so that their fellow gig-goers would stop ‘passing out in front of her’. Nevertheless, she continued her song and finished her set with a humble thanks and a beautiful exit that left the crowd itching for more.

Passenger, unlike Aplin, decided to test our participation by allowing us to sing along with him and even commanding us to listen to the Sound of Silence. We were all excited to hear that he was once a Sydney-sider and actually used to busk a few streets away a while back, so the set felt more like meeting an old friend. There was without a doubt a surge of expectation as Rosenberg came to the end of his set, yet we enjoyed the high that he left us before Ed hit the stage.

Overall, both Gabrielle Aplin and Passenger were perfect support acts for the night. I enjoyed both sets and thought they complimented Ed’s set brilliantly.

* Rachel’s Thoughts: His supporting acts, Gabrielle Aplin and Mike Rosenberg, were amazing. Gabrielle had very sweet beautiful voice. Mike was very humorous with his songs he played which entertained and hyped the audience for Ed. *

The Show – One Man Band

If anyone has seen Ed Sheeran perform, then we all know that it’s not just about his signature guitar with a ‘+’ drawn unto it, it’s also about his trusty loop-pedal. Explaining that he ‘hadn’t come around to making a band’ for his tours, he told us that he was – ideally – his own band.

Hitting the stage with his current single, Give Me Love, the stage resounded with the epic genius of the musician and lyricist, Ed Sheeran. The moment the first few strokes of his guitar vibrated throughout the centre the crowd roared in recognition and excitement, raising their voices in time with the lights that revealed the beloved ginger-haired artist.

Proceeding with his third single from his debut album, Drunk filled the arena with melodies that came from both the microphone and the crowd. By the time Ed settled into, U.N.I. the whole arena had their vocal cords warmed and challenged by the rapping that we were all attempting to keep up with. My mood was a little dampened by the lady behind me who asked Rachel and I to sit down because she (was the only one sitting down in her row and) ‘couldn’t see,’ nevertheless, I complied and sat for the rest of the set. Grade 8 demonstrated the amazing connection between music and graphics as Ed showed us how everything he did with his guitar made a ripple effect that projected jagged lines on the Tetris-like screens behind him.

Taking the volume down, Ed requested us to be quiet for the next song with a story about how a guy was punched at the back of his head at one of his shows for not complying to the request – just to clarify a fan hit another fan, Ed didn’t hit his fan. Although there were a few people who almost got to that point after three ‘universal “shhh’s”’, Wayfaring Stranger captured the silence and turned it into brilliance, so much so, Ed was able to sing without a the mic and reach the very back of the arena like an ancient bard reciting his poem to the masses.

Small Bump had us back singing along which launched an incredible high by the time Ed played his Nina Simone cover, Be My Husband, having us joining in at the chorus, regardless of our gender. The excitement went up a notch, even if the silence was once again requested, and we chanted for Gabrielle to come back on stage and join Ed for Kiss Me. The duet was beautiful and gave the song a deeper meaning as the male and female vocals danced around the arena in the hush of the crowd.

Setting us up for more fun, Ed said he was ‘so excited that he was just going to keep adding songs to the set list’ and so with no complaint for us, he went into Goldrush with a little addition of Bob Marley’s, Don’t Worry, Be Happy, just to highlight how much he was enjoying the show. With a koala thrown unto the stage, Ed decided it was time to take things down again and serenaded his new friend, Nathan (‘named after the Angry Boys character’), with Wake Me Up.

But as the set was coming close to its end, we were again chanting, but this time, it was for Mike. With the crowd still buzzing for more, we were told to turn the excitement down a little for another duet, this time one of Mike song’s, My Heart’s On Fire. Incredible mix of voices left the crowd in awe until, a kangaroo was thrown on stage and Lego House came to close the set with voices once again resounding throughout the arena.

The Encore – More Than Enough

I was waiting for You Need Me, I Don’t Need You all night. I couldn’t wait to see him tear up the speakers with his incredible loops and  his lyrics passionately resonating throughout the arena. I expect this song to go off due to the scale of the centre and was so excited to be part of the dramatics that I had seen at the iTunes Festival. After he ended this song I thought that was it, but when the crowd had settled after the applause that rose at the end of You Need Me, I Don’t Need You, we were all gob-smacked in silence as Ed played The Parting Glass that he attached to Give Me Love on his album. At the end of that song, our applause became roars again as The A Team filled the speakers. The night ended with a unified melody and a general satisfaction that we had seen greatness that night.

Overall and Rachel’s Final Thoughts:

* My highlight of the entire concert was when he sang the end of Wayfaring Stranger without a microphone; the audience panicked at the shock but quickly fell silent again. It was very intimate; it felt like a private concert just for you. For him to sing without a microphone with an audience of 12,000 to hear him loud and clear was incredible. There was nothing I didn't like about the show. It was absolutely perfect. The concert was purely about the music. It wasn't fancy it was just about bringing music to life and giving the audience simple, but perfect show. If I could re-live the concert, I would absolutely love to see Ed preform Wayfaring Stranger again. It was phenomenal. Hearing his voice without it being amplified through out the arena was unbelievable. It felt as if he was singing it to you and only you. It gave me goose bumps! *

I enjoyed the night and was glad to have shared it with Rachel. She’s a big fan and the excitement leading up and afterwards was priceless. One thing I really enjoyed about the show was the fact it was the first show that made me realise what concerts are about – the music. Not fancy sets, high-wiring acts or confetti and fireworks – although those great elements of a great show too, but sitting there, watching one man or woman with their guitar or piano commanding the attention of a whole arena with their nothing but their music – phenomenal.

sL Star Rating: 5 Stars

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