Saturday, 29th June 2024, Ed Sheeran graced Spain with his sole concert as part of his “Mathematics tour” global journey. The spectacle took place at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, kicking off at half past five in the afternoon with the gates opening. The police closed off the surrounding streets to facilitate access for the people flocking towards the stadium. Attendees were able to enjoy beverages, albeit at high prices and the obligation to purchase a plastic cup for each bottle, a measure taken to prevent the throwing of objects and waste.
The atmosphere in the stadium gradually grew, with a significant presence of British expatriates residing on the island, easily identifiable by their drinking habits, along with a good number of Spaniards as well as locals who made their mark in the stadium by doing the wave or singing the “canarión el que no bote”, although the attending Canarians also participated. This blend of cultures added a special touch to the night. However, the high drink prices and the need to purchase an additional plastic cup per bottle were subject to complaints among attendees. This measure, aimed at preventing objects from being thrown on stage, turned out to be somewhat contradictory as the plastic cups could also be thrown, combined with the characteristic heat of the co-capital of our Canary nation, and the prohibition of sitting on the grass in the early hours.
Ed Sheeran’s concert in Tenerife, in images / I Love The World
Calum Scott was entrusted with opening the show at half past seven, delighting the audience with his most renowned songs, including “Dancing On My Own” and “You Are The Reason”. Scott succeeded in warming up the ambiance and setting the stage for the much-anticipated appearance of Ed Sheeran.
At nine o’clock sharp, the stadium lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers of excitement as Ed Sheeran took the stage. The British singer kicked off his performance with a series of his most popular hits, such as “Casttle on the Hill“, concluding with “Shape of you” and “Bad habits“. Throughout the night, Sheeran engaged with the audience, sharing anecdotes and thanking his fans for their unwavering support.
Ed Sheeran’s concert in Tenerife, in images / I Love The World
During the concert, Sheeran had to interrupt his performance up to three times, probably due to potential faintings from the heat endured during the afternoon, very effectively and professionally requesting the intervention of the security personnel and indicating the area where the individual was while the sound technicians illuminated the entire stage to facilitate assistance and asking attendees to create a “corridor”.
It was also surprising that for many of his songs, he used a “looper”, a device with which a small musical piece (a chorus, a guitar sound, some notes on the organ) is live-recorded and played on a loop during the song, creating on the fly several rhythms giving the impression of a complete band. A skill he performed smoothly that allows for a great intensification of his songs.
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One of the most special moments of the night was when Sheeran performed “Tenerife Sea” for the first time at a concert. Although the song was released in 2014, it had never been included in his live performances until that night, according to the artist’s own statements. This live debut was due to the personal connection he has with the island, as his parents, being good Brits, have a house in Adeje in Tenerife. Sheeran thanked the people of Tenerife for inspiring him to create that song, adding a layer of emotion and gratitude to his performance. The excitement peaked when he put on the CD Tenerife shirt towards the end of the show, to the delight of attendees, who the moment they saw him with that shirt started singing “canarión el que no bote“, although the Canarians also sang and bounced. A detail that surely would have pleased Paulino Rivero and not Miguel Angel Ramírez.
Ed Sheeran’s concert in Tenerife, in pictures / I Love the World
In addition to the transport, the security setup was remarkable. Despite the criticisms about the high drink prices and the prohibition of sitting on the grass, the event’s organization was praised for the good provision of the toilets, both the ones already existing in the stadium and the additional mobile ones placed specifically for the event. These toilets were strategically located throughout the venue, staying clean throughout the night.
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Likewise, several food and beverage stalls were set up distributed across the space, managed by efficient and friendly staff. This good organization in terms of the services available within the venue contributed to a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for attendees, despite the detail of high prices at a time of heatwave that particularly affected the cost of water.
