Ed Sheeran announces second Australian tour of 2015 — playing stadiums all by himself

ED Sheeran is to tour our shores again after his sold-out arena tour and will become the first artist to play completely solo at stadiums in Australia.

Ed Sheeran concert

ED Sheeran will become the first artist to play stadiums completely solo in Australia later this year.

Sheeran will return for his second Australian tour of 2015 in November and December.

Fresh from finishing his sold out his arena tour this month, Sheeran will upgrade to stadiums.

No artist has ever played stadiums here without a band.

Just me and a loop pedal ... Ed Sheeran in concert in Perth, Western Australia.

However it’s not just an acoustic show with Sheeran using a loop pedal to turn himself into a one-man-band with the aid of technology.

Sheeran will play Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on November 28, NIB Stadium in Perth on December 2, AAMI Park in Melbourne on December 5 and Allianz Stadium in Sydney on December 9. The tour will not go to Adelaide.

The Australian stadium dates will follow Sheeran playing three sold out shows at Wembley Stadium in London in July, as well as stadiums in Ireland and throughout the US.

“I don’t think the loop pedal is a common thing outside the club circuit, I don’t think it’s been done in stadiums yet,” Sheeran said.

“It’s a unique selling point people talk about, so I’m going to continue building on it and exploring it more.”

One man band ... Ed Sheeran doesn’t need any one else on stage to fill stadiums.

Sheeran is also adhering to his policy of the cheapest ticket price possible, charging $99 and $139 at the Australian shows (the larger production costs in a stadium have necessitated an increase from the $99 across the board pricing at his arena shows.)

”My show doesn’t involve 40 dancers and pyrotechnics and a 30 piece band,” Sheeran said. “So it’d be weird charging as much as people who do have those things.”

Once again there will be no VIP packages or selling of front row seats at inflated prices.

The swift return visit means Sheeran will be in Australia at the same time as his mate Taylor Swift.

Sheeran will be roughly playing a week before Swift, but they may be able to catch up if time permits.

“I think a bit of overlap is the promoter’s goal,” Sheeran says. “We share the same promoter in Michael Gudinski. He’s a cool guy. I’ve never been to Australia in December, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s happening, and getting a bit of sun.”

Sheeran’s two albums, + and x, are both in the Australian Top 10 this week.

Both have sold over 350,000 copies and spawned a relentless string of hits including Thinking Out Loud, Sing, The A Team, Don’t, Give Me Love, Lego House, Drunk and Bloodstream.

This will be Sheeran’s fifth Australian visit in four years; his 2015 sold out arena tour saw him play to over 190,000 fans.

Tickets will go on sale on May 5.

Ed on: Sheeran returning to tour Australia in the summer. Slip, slop, slap buddy! Picture Simon Cross

Originally published as Ed Sheeran announces second Australian tour of 2015 — playing stadiums all by himself