Review: Ed Sheeran at Optus Stadium
Ed Sheeran at Optus Stadium
Saturday, January 31, 2026
w/ Vance Joy, Mia Wray, BIIRD
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour stop at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday night was a masterclass in musicianship, storytelling and genuine connection—the kind of show that makes a stadium feel like a backyard gig with a mate.
Pre-acts set the warm acoustic tone beautifully, opening with Irish trad-folk group BIIRD, followed by Melbourne singer-songwriter Mia Wray. The shift in energy was immediate when Vance Joy took the stage. Where Wray was tentative, Joy was all relaxed bravado. Pulling out the ukulele for Saturday Sun, he had the crowd cheering within seconds. He showcased his versatility by rocking through the classic I Was Made For Lovin’ You before, of course, closing with the anthemic Riptide.
Then came Ed Sheeran.
While all eyes were on the main stage, Sheeran appeared on a circular platform in the middle of the crowd, launching straight into You Need Me, I Don’t Need You. From this moment, Sheeran would not leave the stage for over two and a half hours, an incredibly impressive feat of stamina and showmanship. Throughout the night, a bridge connected the main stage to the central circle, with Sheeran shifting from intimate acoustic moments among the crowd to full-scale rock energy on the main stage.
Early on, Sheeran explained his famous loop pedal setup—the heart of this tour. Watching him build entire songs layer by layer in real time was mesmerising. His musicality and sheer skill were on full display, especially knowing he wasn’t leaning on a band or drummer to carry the sound. The fact that he can command a stadium solo, with no backing tracks or bandmates, for an hour straight is nothing short of incredible.
What truly sets Sheeran apart, though, is his ability to talk to you. Before nearly every song, he shared personal anecdotes, giving each track context and heart. One example is when he introduced Angels to Fly, explaining how it followed him from empty pubs to massive crowds—the song never changing, just the size of the audience. It was humble, honest, and perfectly Ed.
He even took requests, pulling out some lesser-known gems like American Town and Overpass Graffiti, much to the delight of longtime fans, with Sheeran himself having fun trying to recall 15-year-old lyrics.
After his first solo set, the band Beoga joined him for a lively run of songs, including Galway Girl, which he shared was written the very day he met the band. After six or seven high-energy numbers, they exited again, leaving Ed alone once more for another impressive solo stretch, returning to the loop pedal magic with tracks like Photograph and I See Fire from Game of Thrones.
Sheeran’s humour and audience interaction kept the atmosphere as light and fun as a Sunday beer garden at the local. He laughed at himself, thanked the crowd (sincerely) for the effort they put into coming, and delivered cheeky lines like, “If you don’t know the words to this one… then why are you here?”
Another highlight was a clever medley of songs he’s co-written for other artists, including Eastside (Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid), 2002 (Anne-Marie), One Direction’s Little Things, Cold Water (Justin Bieber and MØ), and Bieber’s Love Yourself. It was a powerful reminder of just how far his songwriting influence reaches—even a nod to his writing credit on Shakira’s Zoo from Zootopia 2, in which he has a cameo as sheep Ed Shearin.
He closed the night with his two biggest hits, Shape of You and Bad Habits, sending the stadium into full celebration mode.
But beyond the hits, the loops, and the fireworks, it was Sheeran’s stage presence that made the night unforgettable. His conversational style feels effortless and sincere—like he’s not performing at you but hanging out with you. When he wrapped up by saying, “See you tomorrow,” it genuinely felt like he might be popping around for a Sunday barbecue.
MELISSA MANN
Photos by Mark Surridge
