It is so difficult to describe a show that completely blows me away; a show that, unlike any other, makes every hair on my body rise, and goosebumps seep through the gabs in between. Watching Ed Sheeran live was an irresistible experience that captivated me with every moment. I caught myself several times staring at the stage, full grinned and zoned out from the atmosphere around me. It was magical. AAMI Park was a superb choice of venue and one-man-show Sheeran was the perfect man for the job.

Despite being one song late, with an open roof, the sound was enormous. The bubble that is AAMI Park was trebling from the outside from the music Ed was making from inside.

There was quite a distance between where I sat and the stage, but it did not phase me. Four long LED screens behind a tiny Ed Sheeran allowed me take in what exactly he was doing on stage. Plus, I have pretty awesome eye sight. He explained early in the show that a couple that attended his show in Canada asked for their money back because they thought he was just singing to a backing tape. What they didn’t know was that Ed uses a loop pedal and reproduces all his hits live, right in front of his audience. He is a one man band. He shows us the loop pedal on the screens. His professionalism, his talent and his accuracy using the technology whilst keep the entertainment flowing, is above and beyond.

All the hits were performed, including a surprising appearance of Small Bump which Ed mentioned he doesn’t usually play live. It was a welcomed inclusion from the fans. And speaking about the fans, what an awesome atmosphere the crowed was able to vibe out. The audience participation was on point. Everybody sang along, clapped along in time and waved their hands and their lit up phones in the air in perfect harmony, sometimes without Ed’s guidance. That is the power of Ed Sheeran. He gave permission for everybody to ‘sing out of tune and dance like an idiot’ early in the show. To me, everybody sounded beautiful.

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Massive prompts to the sound system in AAMI Park. I did not think it would work. I thought it would sound as bad as Etihad Stadium, and I hate Etihad stadium for concerts. It’s just too large. But I was firmly surprised. The acoustics inside the arena were fantastic. I don’t think a show with lots of choreography and stage production would work, but for one guy on his guitar alone, it was perfect.

This show has seeped into my memory for life. Everything, from venue to the live performance itself, it was all a perfect combination.

Ed Sheeran live at AAMI Park in Melbourne is well deserving of a 5 out of 5. Next time, I’m fighting someone for front row seats.

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