Live Report: Ed Sheeran in Croke Park, Friday night

Somebody up there likes Ed Sheeran, that’s for sure. Met Eireann had warned of prolonged heavy showers and even thunderstorms during the wunderkind’s first of two sell-out nights at Croker. But on the night, it was perfectly dry and calm, if just a tad chilly for the time of year and the poncho sellers outside did a poor trade. Just as well for the 80,000 who packed into the enormous arena – many had travelled far and wide to be here and a thorough soaking would have er, dampened spirits, as they say.
Of course, this wasn’t just a gig but an event, an occasion, and a giant spectacle. Yours truly would have been skeptical of the notion that just one man, his guitar and a box of electronic tricks could reach out to such a huge crowd. But – helped by clever visuals, including 10 giant video screens and impressive computer animations – he did just that. It’s a testament to his innate skill, talent, personality and, let’s face it, supreme confidence that he could pull it off so successfully. From the opening, ‘I’m A Mess’ to the finale ‘Sing’, Sheeran was in full control at all times – all killer no filler!
“I’ve felt nothing but excitement about this gig,” he beamed mid way through the proceedings. “Ireland is my favourite place to play. You go more mental than anyone else.” He wasn’t wrong.
At his most basic, Ed Sheeran is simply the best pub singer in the world – aware of the need to entertain as well as to impress musically. The judicious use of cover versions of his own favourites interspersed into the set is clever (take note, other troubadours) and sparked howls of recognition, especially among the slightly more “mature” members of the audience. ‘Take It Back’ morphed seamlessly into Stevie Wonder’s funky ‘Superstition’ with a few bars of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ thrown in. (He even tackled Wonder’s early Motown hit, ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ in its entirely, offering his most soulful singing of the night). And if his version of ‘Raglan Road’ didn’t quite match the majesty of say Luke Kelly’s, it was heartfelt none the less, while he has almost made ‘The Parting Glass’ his own. Crowd participation is always important with Sheeran and the fist-pumping during ‘Bloodstream’ the mass mobile phone waving during ‘A-Team’ all contributed to the visual feast, especially as darkness fell and strong purple hues hung under the upper stands providing a stunning effect.
Surprisingly his most ubiquitous radio tune, ‘Thinking Out Loud’ was just one of many highlights, the crowd choir on ‘Give Me Love’ came close while, in what was the worst kept secret of the night, Kodaline received a rapturous welcome when they arrived out for a joint rendition with Sheeran of ‘All I Want’ – a taste of thing to come for the Swords lads, perhaps?
Earlier, Gavin James warmed up the crowd nicely, rising to the occasion impressively, while Bell X1 – an odd choice at first for a gig like this – went down exceptionally well, despite some sound problems and a mic failure on an unplugged version of the Bono-penned Roy Orbison hit, ‘Mystery Girl'.