Taylor A ENG 3U 24 September 2012 Ed Sheeran Concert All day I raced around with anticipation, watching the clock. School felt like it was dragging on more than usual. I hurried to finish my work in class so I could enjoy a stress-free night out. I had been counting down the days ever since I got the tickets! Aside from my anxiety, the Sun was shining and I knew it would be a nice night for a concert. Not only JUST a concert… but an Ed Sheeran concert. I have never been to this venue before nor did I know how many people would be there. This just added to my anxiety.
But with the windows rolled down and Ed’s CD blasting my worries flew away with the wind. With no idea where we were going we spotted a large, crazy crowd of girls (and a few lucky guys) and we knew we had reached our destination. Off in the distance with the CN Tower behind it I could see the stage. Now when I read that the venue was Echo Beach I assumed it would be lakefront but I wasn’t expecting actual sand between your toes. We forgot our chairs and were forced to stand for at least five hours. There was so much to do that we didn’t mind. There was music playing, and lots of interactive kiosks and food trucks.
With no dinner in our stomachs the tantalizing smell teased us. We could see the trucks, the tantalizing smell teased us. After grabbing some hot Greek food we walked over to the merchandise table which was as busy as the mall parking lot at Christmas time. The show would be starting soon and we didn’t want to miss it so we scrambled to find a washroom! Now with the knowledge that it was an outdoor venue it is easy to assume the quality of the washroom facilities there. I refused to believe they would be outhouses lined in a semi-circle with a trough in the centre to wash your hands in after. I was out of there as fast as I got in.
I made sure not to have any more refreshingly chilled beverages that night as I had no intention of revisiting their “washrooms”. Besides the millions of tiny bugs swarming around the crowd, it truly was the perfect night for an outdoor concert. I mentioned seeing the crazy crowd of girls and how I knew I was in the right place, but I did not know just how massive the crowd really was until I looked past the one right in front of my eyes. The line went on as far as my two eyes could see. Among the line were signs and posters, and girls with handmade shirts. When the venue personnel finally came out, all hell broke loose.
Girls were screaming and pushing. Now I did not expect this at an Ed Sheeran concert. Girls were screaming and pushing. If I had known better I would have thought that I was at a One Direction concert. This crowd was unruly and could not be controlled! People were pushing and shoving through the gated line up. As the first section of people was let in we watched as girls lost their valuables and friends, and were pushed up against the gate with panic-stricken eyes and red cheeks. Some cried and hopped the fence while others stuck it out. What felt like hours later, we were finally at the front of the once massive line.
We got through the gate and were on our way to the already crowded stage. Garbage’s were filled to the top and lines were as long as the one’s on Boxing Day. The anticipation grew and the butterflies flew around in my stomach. Amongst the crowd we found a decent spot for the three of us to stand and watch from. Just my luck there in front of me stood a six foot tall man recording the whole concert, but that wouldn’t ruin my night. It would only ruin my view. The lights turned down and adrenaline began to race through me as the crowd began to go wild! “How are you Toronto?! ” said a British man through the microphone.
I could not contain my excitement! That was when I realized that I did not recognize the voice. It was not Ed Sheeran but was his opening act Passenger. His opening act did not disappoint! He had the crowd going and laughing! He was definitely the right opening act for Ed. Teenagers danced and sung together. Parents held each other swaying to the music. 45 minutes passed and he announced that he would be singing his final song. Passenger exited the stage and shortly after began to chant, “ED, ED, ED, ED!!! ” There was so much energy in the crowd and you had to be senseless not to feel it.
The crowd roared as he entered the stage! He serenaded the venue with his beautiful voice. Everyone began to sing along and he loved it. A man of many talents Ed is. He was the only one of stage playing all of his own instruments (beautifully I may add). After a few songs he decided he wanted to play a “quiet one”. He began to playfully shush the crowd and only a few seconds into the song a plane thunderingly took off from Billy Bishop Airport. We all couldn’t help but laugh. His beautiful voice echoed through the speakers and I couldn’t help but have a feeling of bliss. The speakers vibrated through my chest as I sung along.
I couldn’t help but notice how much better he was live. All I could think was “how am I going to listen to his CD at home now when I’ve heard him live?! ” Ed can really put on a show! He told stories in between songs and really interacted with the crowd. Eventually someone threw a red bra onto the stage and he giggled and hung it off of his microphone stand. The crowd sung along for the rest of the concert and he brought Passenger back out to sing a song with him. The concert was coming to an end and I was not excited to experience what I like to call ‘post-concert depression’.
After his entertaining encore we started to leave and my ears were still ringing. On our way back to the car I replayed the night in my head. Many parents were sitting in their cars waiting for their kids as I danced and sung through the parking lot. On our way home we decided to listen to his CD in the car and traffic was a zoo as we tried to exit the parking lot. When we arrived at home later all three of us were exhausted! I jumped into bed in my new Ed Sheeran shirt and fell asleep almost instantly. It was a great night, and I will never forget that concert!
