I used to think Ed Sheeran was…over. After the whirlwind of theDividetour, he’d faded into the background, another ubiquitous pop star. Admitting to liking him felt almost embarrassing, a guilty pleasure akin to defending Coldplay or Nickelback. It felt like a confession of basic taste.
But something shifted in a small venue in Dublin this week. He played a surprise Spotify Billions Club gig, stripped down to just a guitar and a loop pedal. The energy was different, raw and immediate, a world away from stadium spectacle.
He explained to the crowd that Dublin had always shown him unwavering support, and the room responded with a fervent energy. A woman near me locked arms with her son, both of them singing along with every word – and he has a *lot* of words to sing along to.
He opened with “Sapphire” and then launched into “The A Team,” a song that instantly reminded me he’s been a force in music for over fifteen years. A consistent presence, not just on the charts, but as a remarkably prolific songwriter.
The setlist was a masterclass in hits, but it was the unexpected moments that truly shone. A mashup of all his billion-stream songs, featuring collaborations with artists like Justin Bieber, underscored the sheer breadth of his influence.
There was a charming vulnerability too. He stumbled over the intro to “Beautiful People,” laughing it off with a self-deprecating apology. It was a reminder that beneath the global stardom, he’s still just a musician, capable of a momentary lapse.
Despite the massive success – over 92 million monthly listeners on Spotify – he felt remarkably down to earth. Just him, a fiddle player, and the magic of a loop pedal transforming a single guitar into a full, layered soundscape.
“Castle on the Hill” ignited the crowd, even eclipsing the usually reliable “Galway Girl.” It was a powerful moment, a testament to the song’s enduring appeal and the shared memories it evokes.
He played all the expected anthems: “Perfect,” “Happier,” even “Bad Habits.” But it wasn’t just the songs themselves; it was the way he delivered them, with a skill and ease that made it look effortless.
Ed Sheeran isn’t just a performer; he’s a craftsman. He could command a stadium, but he’s truly at home in these intimate spaces, connecting with an audience on a deeply personal level.
The evening was a potent blend of nostalgia, genuine fun, and simply good music. It was a show so captivating, so perfectly executed, that I almost don’t want to see him perform again – fearing he could never replicate it.
But then again, his tenth anniversary headlining Glastonbury is approaching. Perhaps a return to Worthy Farm could offer a worthy challenge to the magic he created in Dublin.
The setlist included: Sapphire, Shape of You, The A Team, Castle on the Hill, I See Fire, Galway Girl, Nancy Mulligan, Happier, Thinking Out Loud, Beautiful People / I Don’t Care / Bam Bam [medley], Perfect, Photograph, Shivers, Azizam, Bad Habits, and Parting Glass.
With fourteen songs now exceeding a billion streams, his impact on global culture is undeniable. This Spotify event wasn’t just a concert; it was a celebration of a remarkable career.
