Ed Sheeran, Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham - review

I saw Ed supporting Just Jack back in 2009 - I remember being mesmerised by his rapping and loop pedal so we bought an EP.

After his slot, he signed the CD and asked us if we wanted him to do a gig at our house for £50 if we provided him with a sofa.

I still have no idea why we never took him up on that offer.

Since that night, I've watched as he's deservingly took the world by storm but it hasn't changed him.

That shy ginger lad has gone from the O2 Academy to Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena to a headline slot in Glastonbury in eight years.

And what a treat Birmingham had.

Things kicked off with Castle on the Hill, followed by hit after hit.

Before playing crowd pleaser The A Team, Ed explains how he played the song in the city's Hare & Hounds venue many years ago on a table with no PA system due to a fault.

Still using that loop pedal I was once stunned by those years ago, Ed ploughed on with Don't, Bloodstream and hit single Galway Girl.

Things slowed down a little with The Hobbit's I See Fire before the night had a more romantic twist when two fans got engaged during Perfect.

Ed said: "It really touches me that people do things like that to my music because when years go by that song will have a special meaning and they'll always remember it."

The two hour 45 minute set saw fans scream back the lyrics throughout.

It may have only been Ed and his guitar with very little else going on but fans didn't seem to mind.

The 26-year-old rounded things off with Thinking Out Loud, Sing, number one hit Shape Of You before finishing with You Need Me, I Don't Need You.

Ed is humble, lapping it up in deserving success and has the world in the palm of his hands right now.

After his Glastonbury slot, there's not much else Ed has left to conquer.