Review: Ed Sheeran brings it home to Yorkshire in incredible concert

So said Halifax born Ed Sheeran as the megastar brought the party spirit to a natural amphitheatre in Roundhay Park, Leeds, last night. Yorkshire welcomed him with deafening cheers and open arms despite the mud, even the rain halted. The solo artist, who revealed his first gig in Leeds was to a rather smaller crowd at The Cockpit, performed to a gargantuan crowd of around 75,000 people. It was one of the last shows in an epic run of more than two years of the record-breaking Divide tour , but Sheeran’s energy and fire felt as though it could have been the very first night. He rolled out hit after hit, from Castle on the Hill to Bloodstream, and The A Team to Sing. Irish band Beoga rejoined him for an especially spirited performance of Nancy Mulligan and Galway Girl, and there were tracks from his new collaboration project cleverly mixed in. Crowd participation ranged from a breath-taking sea of phone lights to being the unofficial ‘backing singers.’

It’s easy to forget how much music Sheeran has already made for a 28 year old, from sweet ballads to guitar bashing foot stompers.

There aren’t many singers who can choke your throat with emotion (Tenerife Sea live was powerfully moving) as well as making your calves ache from dancing to Shape of You.

But one incredibly talented man, a guitar and a trusty loop pedal did just that.

Ed Sheeran is back at Rounday Park tonight, August 17.