Ed Sheeran poured it all into his first Christchurch gig in 11 years - literally

I’m going to be 100% transparent right now and say that I AM writing this with still-pruned fingers after attending Ed Sheeran’s first Christchurch show in 11 years - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If this is a review where you’re expecting videos and photos of the most extravagant moments, I’m sorry, but you’ve come to the wrong place. This review is simply about vibes.

Not just because it was bucketing down and my fingers couldn’t function on my phone screen to hit record, but because the experience is what made the whole show - and it was one of the best ‘live in the moment’ times of my 25 years.

If we’re talking about the bridge that scaled across the mosh pit, or the sheer number of guitars Ed Sheeran uses on stage, Auckland and Wellington, you got the best of that. We, however, got a hilarious bridge fail that resulted in Ed staying longer on the middle stage (we can’t complain), and two guitars left standing.

“I’ve never seen a puddle on my set list before,” Ed joked mid-show.

For his first gig in Ōtautahi in over a decade, it was many firsts for CHCH kids - some who weren’t even alive for some of his first hits from his ‘+’ album back in 2011.

But still, whether it was a first, second or fourth time seeing the redhead legend, not even the rain could keep us from having a good time.

“I want to address the elephant in the room,” Ed said to the crowd.

“Thank you so much for waiting in the rain up until now. It’s nice to know that New Zealand summer is the same as British summer - I feel at home.”

“But the one thing I realised, ’cause I do a lot of outdoor shows and a lot of those outdoor shows end up being in the rain - whenever it rains, the gigs are always WAY better.

And the reason they’re way better is that when we’re soaked, we go, ‘I gotta have fun now.’ And I promise you, this show, I can feel the energy just looking out at people. You don’t look miserable and wet.

And you know what? He was 100% right. We might’ve had cold hands and water dripping from our foreheads, but to see the sheer number of people embracing the weather, phones away, and enjoying each other’s company was something I’d never experienced before.

I debated even writing this review, but if it wasn’t for the lovely lady Gail and her partner, who were sitting next to me, my experience could have been cut short.

We spent the night singing, dancing and chatting - bonding over an artist who might be the only solo artist thousands would continue to push through three hours of rain for.

Even right up until the last encore track, ‘Bad Habits’, we got up from our seats to show support for an artist who loves us right back.

So much so, if he hadn’t married his childhood sweetheart, he’d probably be calling this place home.

If there’s anything to take away from Ed’s performance, it’s this: he shows up for his fans, and his fans show up for him.

Ed’s final ‘Loop Tour’ NZ show is tomorrow night at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, and he admits it’s “going to be a while” before he’s back.

So enjoy him while we have him - rain or shine.