Rain, queues outside Adelaide Oval can’t stop Ed Sheeran’s show
There was rain as people queued outside Adelaide Oval for Ed Sheeran – but as soon as the show kicked off, it didn’t matter.
Entertainment
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Scenes of chaos surrounded Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night as 60,000 fans descended on Ed Sheeran’s massive SA show, with lines stretching for hundreds of metres outside the venue.
But while rain and surging crowds could have dampened the spirits of the British pop megastar’s enthusiastic audience, tempers melted away as the stage’s enormous, 360 degree screen’s countdown ran to zero.
When the show kicked off just after 8pm, the screams of almost 60,000 fans put Showdown crowds to shame as Sheeran arrived in a flurry of flames and pyrotechnics, dressed in just jeans and a T-Shirt emblazoned with a rainbow ‘ADELAIDE’.
It was a friendly touch from the British megastar, who visited the Women’s and Children’s Hospital just minutes after arriving in SA.
“I’m going to play some songs that hopefully you know, if you don’t it’s going to be a long two hours for you,” Sheeran joked.
Armed with his trusty loop pedal, a guitar and his voice – Sheeran launched early into ‘Shivers’, his latest – and arguably biggest – radio earworm.
He also asked the Adelaide crowd to be kind and “not make a meme out of him” should he slip on the rain-soaked stage – before launching in to sing Australia’s praises.
“I first came to Adelaide in 2012 … now (Australia) is the place I’ve sold the most tickets I’ve ever sold in the world,” he said.
Sheeran also gave a touching personal tribute to his late friend and music promoter Michael Gudinski, with a local nod to Adelaide’s Penfolds winery.
“Adelaide is wine country, home of the mighty Penfolds, which was (Gudinski’s) favourite,” Sheeran said.
The concert was not completely without drama, with a man arrested after being wrestled to the ground by several security services and police officers near the main gates.
Bystanders captured the man on video screaming “I’ve done nothing wrong” before he was dragged away from the premises by police.
The incident occurred at the southern plaza at Adelaide Oval and police have not yet confirmed the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Sheeran’s special pre-show visit to sick Adelaide kids
Sheeran had only been in Adelaide for a matter of minutes before he touched the hearts of some of our city’s smallest – and sickest – fans.
After the British superstar’s private jet touched down at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the 32-year-old headed straight to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for a very special performance.
In a combined effort between SA Health and The Hospital Research Foundation Group, Sheeran brought along his guitar to strum some of his biggest hits in a surprise private show for sick children and their families.
At the hospital, Sheeran said he “genuinely found a lot of enjoyment” from bringing joy to the faces of those he visits.
“I’ve done it since the beginning of my career and I feel like it’s a really powerful gift to be able to come in and make someone smile,” Sheeran said.
“Who am I to say that I shouldn’t be using that every single day. I was speaking to my wife about it, it’s like, if you have the ability to do that, it should be utilised because you’re given that for a reason.
“It’s not just to benefit me, to have a lovely time doing these shows … I just hope it does make people happy.”
To say thank you for his visit, Sheeran was gifted a card, handmade bracelets and chocolates by WCH patients and staff.
Fan Jake Wagenfeller was lucky enough to snap a selfie with Sheeran at the airport before he made his way to the hospital, saying the multi-award winner was “lovely”.
“It happened super fast, his security guard Kevin came out and grabbed my phone and then Ed came out of the car and took the photo,” Mr Wagenfeller said.
Sheeran’s blockbuster show at Adelaide Oval kicks off at 8:15pm, with more than 58,000 expected to attend.
Fans were at the ground well ahead of gates opening at 4:30pm, with wins Hediyah and Haniyeh Alikhani, 16, attending the show with their older sister Yalda.
For the twins, who have cerebral palsy, Sheeran’s track ‘Perfect’ is extra special – Yalda walked down the aisle to it, and they haven’t stopped singing it since.
“It’s a dream come true for them, my sister even has (Ed’s) picture by her bed and talks to him at night … they are obsessed,” Yalda said.
“We’ve brought posters in the hopes of getting his attention – my sister said she needed something funny, so they went with, ‘Eddie, push my wheelchair’.
“We’re hoping it catches his eye, but but no matter what they’re so happy to be here.”
Asha Ketteridge said she was thrilled that Sheeran chose to bring his show to Adelaide, after daughter Emily, 15, travelled interstate to see fellow pop magnate Harry Styles last week.
“We’ve been waiting since last year for this show, we’re just so excited he decided to come to Adelaide,” Mrs Ketteridge said.
“Adelaide Oval is the best venue in the world, but you don’t know it until you come here … it’s such a great place to be.”
Kloie Fawcett hoped Sheeran would play her favourite track, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, to celebrate her birthday on Sunday.
Travelling all the way from Whyalla, Ms Fawcett bought tickets last year after missing out on Sheeran’s last Adelaide visit.
When Sheeran played the venue exactly five years ago to the date – in pre-Covid times on March 7, 2018 – a 63,000-capacity crowd attended.
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