Percept Live, the creators of one of the largest music festivals in the world, Sunburn, launched FLY, their new age contemporary live international music property with Brit singer – songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Brought to India for the very first time by Percept Live, Ed Sheeran performed in front of over 9,000 crazy fans at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course on 1^st March and enthralled one and all with his ultra combination of Pop, R&B, Folk, Hip-Hop and acoustic renditions.  Reaching out to the “screenagers” of the country, Ed styled himself with a dark blue kurta and blue pants, Ed, short for Edward shared his love for India (like most artists do), and his surprise that his Indian fans knew all his songs. Ed shifted from rap to beat boxing and also played drums on his guitar while looping tracks from his songs. Though a few songs he sung to were played from minus one tapes, we can excuse the young man. His charming persona, smile and his emotional connection with the teens who gathered to watch him more than compensated it. He belted out songs like 'I See fire, inside the mountain’ (from the blockbuster movie Hobbit’s original soundtrack), 'Kiss Me', 'Thinking our loud', to many others, finishing his set with his most popular single 'Sing' taken from his second album.

Ed performed all his songs from the centre of the stage, which left many fans disappointed. Surely there was no harm in him coming to the front of the stage and doing his set. His female fans who outnumbered the male population, would've loved to have the 24 year old reach out to them. Apart from that, Ed's showmanship lacked a lot, which he surely should learn from his peers who have gone ahead of him. The moment that cannot be missed was when he asked his fans to light up the arena with their cellphones as he sang one of his tracks. All in all it was a great evening with the Grammy nominated singer (Ed Sheeran was nominated at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in ‘Best New Artist’ category, but sadly lost out) who gave us 90 minutes of great music. It was a moment you just couldn't miss. Ed promised to be back in Mumbai soon and so we look forward to seeing him again in Mumbai.

Fans would surely remember this day for a long time to come.

Karbonn, one of the top 3 Smartphone brands in India, was the title sponsor for this extraordinary and the first ever show of its kind.

Want to see photos of Ed Sheeran at the concert? Click on the link below to go straight to the International Photos section.

http://www.musicunplugged.in/gallery/international

Photos and Text: Verus Ferreira