HITMAKER Ed Sheeran made history as he took his Mathematics tour to Wearside.

With crowds arriving as early as 9am for a set starting at 8.30pm, the disappointment surrounding the cancellation of one of three planned gigs for the Stadium of Light had been forgotten.

120,000 fans took in singer-songwriter Sheeran over just two nights, making it one of the North-East’s largest crowds.

Fans arrived to a circular stage, cleverly arranged to give each and every spectator a glimpse of the man some will have paid hundreds to see live.

A ringed stage with red hues, characteristic of his latest album cover, awaited Sheeran, while large screens, at times, giving Andy Warhol vibes protected plectrum-shaped video.

Maisie Peters’ support was well received, as well as a set from Dylan.

And with the crowd suitably warm, the Mexican wave began. Not content with just once, fans threw their arms in the air time and time again, and again.

A ten-minute countdown indicated the show was to begin and Sheeran appeared on stage in a black, long-sleeved T-shirt with ‘Sunderland’ emblazed on it, telling crowds their energy was “amazing.”

Hexham Courant:

What, however, was more amazing was the way he quite literally seemed to run laps around the stage – never quite tiring – giving every ticketholder a small piece of him.

Opening with Tides and Blow from his newest album, fireworks and later coloured canons took to the sky as he told Sunderland it was his loudest crowd of the tour – and I can believe it.

A completely live and always unique performance, Sheeran was joined by a small band. But crowds were more taken in by his loop-pedal.

You’d be forgiven for thinking it might be a laidback affair, just one man and his guitar – or several – but as the show got underway, some of Sheeran’s best-known tracks saw crowds fist-pumping.

For over two hours, he promised to play fans songs they’d recognise – including Galway Girl, which borrowed support Maisie Peters’ violinist for a new take on the already popular track.

Many of Sheeran’s best-loved songs had been remixed – sung either differently to radio or mashed together – making fans fall in love with them all over again as he started the “singalong’ section.

Sheeran spoke of not wanting to disappoint fans as he reflected on his times singing in a pub at open mic, knowing he was the worst there. How surreal it must have felt to him as the crowd eagerly obliged to requests to sing as loud and as out of tune as possible or to hold up their phone lights.

Hexham Courant:

The performance, which marked his return to the North-East after his 2018 gig at St James Park, which he, naturally, said was one of his favourite shows, closed on a very long, drawn-out version of You Need Me, I Don’t Need you, and to be honest, I’m not sure anybody needed it.

As I headed for the car – parked in the furthest, aptly named Park and Walk known to man, I was still on a high. Let’s hope those stuck on the Metro for two hours felt that same high.