“If you don’t know the lyrics, what are you doing here?”
This was the recurring theme at Ed Sheeran’s Billions Club Live event last night in Dublin. This remark was made right before performing his first major hit, ‘The A-Team’. The concert was organized for Sheeran's devoted fans, allowing the singer-songwriter to showcase 14 of his songs that have reached a billion streams, along with a few sentimental tracks for good luck during his time in Ireland.
Hosted in Ireland, the event felt like a homecoming for Ed: his father is originally from Belfast, while his mother’s family comes from County Wexford. He spent time busking on Grafton Street in Dublin and shared with the audience that he chose Dublin for this show because it was the place where he decided to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter: “I feel like this is where it all started, so I’m glad we’re here.”
Although this concert was much smaller than others he has performed—his last Dublin show in 2022 drew 80,000 fans and sold out—there was still a vibrant atmosphere, with groups of people in football jerseys sharing pints of Guinness and lager. Many attendees wore dark green baseball caps embroidered with the event's name.
Speaking with fans who managed to secure tickets, it was evident that this unique closeness was what thrilled them. Darren, a 26-year-old from Ballymore, has followed Sheeran since 2016, while 20-year-old Oisin, who brought his best friend along, described the venue as “Unreal. It feels really exclusive and truly intimate.”
Aisling, who has been a fan since school when ‘The A Team’ debuted in 2011, mentioned that whenever Ed tours in Ireland, she makes sure to see him twice: “to ensure I don’t miss anything.” She adores him and his music: “It resonates deeply with your soul.”
For this performance, Sheeran simplifies his setup, creating his own sound mix. It’s just him, his looping pedal, and his guitar, bringing a lively, intense, almost youthful energy to his all-live performance.
The set begins with the love song ‘Sapphire’, the lead single from his latest album ‘Play’, followed by his first song to join the elite Billions Club, ‘Shape of You’.
Sheeran expressed that his third song, ‘The A Team’, holds special significance for him, as it has accompanied him from small pubs to large stadiums: “To think of a billion is quite incredible: that so many people have listened to this song, given its origins. Do you know the words? And if you don’t know the lyrics, why are you here?”
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The Royal Dublin Society, where the concert occurred, felt the energy surge during ‘Castle on the Hill’, with phone torches illuminating during ‘I See Fire’.
The fiddler Niamh Dunne joins him for ‘Galway Girl’, after which they play ‘Nancy Mulligan’, honoring the love story of his grandparents, William and Nancy Mulligan. Sheeran noted this was the first time they performed these songs without a backing band, serving as a meaningful tribute to his Irish heritage.
Other popular tracks, including ‘Happier’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, ‘Perfect’, and ‘Photograph’, flowed one after another, transitioning from heartache to heartfelt sentiment.
This was my first experience watching Sheeran live, and I was struck by how genuinely likable he is, effortlessly comfortable both onstage and off. He related with the audience as he played, showcasing the charm of an experienced performer.
He concluded the set in the style of traditional Irish folk with ‘Parting Glass’, shouting joyfully as he did. He expressed gratitude to the audience for making the effort to get babysitters and book hotels, praising them for being wonderful. “This is the best city in the world to perform in,” he stated.
This event marked the third Billions Club concert organized by Spotify, the first being with The Weeknd in Los Angeles, followed by Miley Cyrus in Paris. A concert without tickets available for purchase, this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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Words: Kate Jeffrie
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“If you don’t know the lyrics, what are you doing here?” This was the recurring theme at Ed Sheeran’s Billions Club Live event in Dublin last night.