Ed Sheeran warms HMV Institute

Ed Sheeran

HMV Institute, Birmingham

words and pictures by James Watkins

Ed Sheeran played to a sell-out crowd at the HMV Institute and hailed the venue as the "best I've ever played".

Walking out solo and armed with just an acoustic guitar, the Halifax folk rocker showed Midlands revellers just why his debut album went straight to the top of the charts.

Opening with the upbeat Grade 8, Sheeran delighted with a tightly strung vocal performance that mixed his melodies with fast paced lyrics.

He earned great admiration for walking onto the stage with nothing but a guitar and playing an entertainment set.

Somehow Sheeran does that with ease, mixing guitar loops live on stage to give him no need for accompanyment - particularly noted during The City.

Other highlights of the night included a fabulous Jamie Woon cover in Wayfaring Stranger, alongside the impressive Lego House and fan favorite, The A Team, which saw the capacity crowd raise the roof singing back the chorus in their loudest voice.

Ed Sheeran plays his next gig in the West Midlands at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in January, but , you'll be lucky to get a ticket.

In the words of Sheeran's graceful tune This, it really is the start of something beautiful. He is quite probably the UK's biggest treasure - alongside Adele - at the moment.