Ed Sheeran's opening night of his Loop tour in Brisbane was marred by sound issues that frustrated fans, despite an otherwise ambitious and engaging performance. The British singer-songwriter, known for his loop pedal technique, played to a crowd of 55,000 at the stadium, but technical hiccups and audio delays affected quieter moments.
The show, which premiered in Australia before heading to New Zealand and North America, featured Sheeran performing alone with a loop station, layering guitar, percussion, and vocals live. However, during intimate songs like 'The A Team', the stadium became an echo chamber, with vocals bouncing back with heavy delay, muddying the sound. This issue also affected between-song banter, leaving some fans disappointed.
Sheeran powered through a 29-song set spanning his 15-year career, including tracks from his 2025 album 'Play'. Despite the sound problems, he engaged the audience with a QR code request system, pulling out deeper cuts like 'The City' and 'Supermarket Flowers'. The show lifted when Irish folk band Beoga joined him for 'Galway Girl' and 'Nancy Mulligan'.
The encore featured hits like 'Shape of You' and 'Bad Habits', ending with a pyrotechnic display. However, the Loop tour's quieter ambitions struggled in the large venue, with missed cues and a faulty pedal noted. Sheeran acknowledged the crowd's energy, saying, 'Perth and Brisbane are particularly nuts... you set the tone for the rest of the tour.'
