One man and a guitar. That’s all it took for Ed Sheeran to get thousands of fans excited on a chilly Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Sheeran’s “Divide” concert Oct. 13 showcased Sheeran in his best light: no distractions, just simple, great music.

The two opening acts were the perfect blend of new and old. Up-and-coming artist Lauv started off the night. While showcasing his new releases, he also pleased the crowd with his popular song “I Like Me Better.”  Following his performance, the 25 year-old band Snow Patrol played. Even though it was their first tour in seven years, they did not skip a beat. They played a nice mix of old and new songs, including the “Grey’s Anatomy” featured song, “Chasing Cars.”

With nothing but his guitar and a smile, Sheeran took the stage around 9 p.m. He started off the performance with the excellent choice of “Castle on the Hill.” The faster-paced, popular song set the mood for the rest of the concert. Sheeran played his classic songs like “A-team” interspersed with songs from his newest album “Divide.”

Throughout the performance, Sheeran added witty commentary between songs, encouraging fans to dance, sing and to just enjoy the experience. The crowd responded, joining in on the choruses, clapping and moving along to the music. When Sheeran played “Perfect,” there were so many phone flashlights on it looked like the overhead lights came back on. 

The lack of elaborate costumes, special effects and complex dance moves allowed the music to shine through. There was no need for any intricate gimmicks to distract from the real reason for the concert. The simplicity gave the concert an intimate feel from the floor seats all the way up to the nosebleeds.

Much to the delight of the audience, following the ‘end’ to the concert, Sheeran came back on stage wearing Kansas City’s superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ jersey. The last two songs, “Shape of You” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” got the whole on their feet and capped off the concert perfectly.