Ellie Goulding in the 02, Dublin, 1st of March 2014

As the clock strikes nine the 02 is plunged into darkness and Ellie Goulding’s band assume their positions on stage. Pulsing lightening bolts flicker on gigantic screens and the beat of Figure 8 comes from the speakers. Ms Goulding appears wearing an outfit that resembles a studded swimsuit, Doc Martins and a bindi. A sea of smartphones are instantaneously raised in the air.

Before long Goulding bouncing around amidst shades of red, pink and purple lighting, swinging her hips and singing Ritual to all corners of the venue. While the guitarist sometimes looks like he could have more to do, the backing singers are energetic and dance in unison.

Her latest single Goodness Gracious prompts an overwhelming roar from the crowd, as fireworks spark at the front of the stage. So far it is a lively, exuberant set. She tells the audience that Dublin is one of her favourite places in the entire world and while we all know this is standard concert line, she seems genuinely happy to be here. Her energy is infectious at this point and next up is I Need Your Love, which quickly turns into one big happy singsong with 14,000 people.

Following the last effervescent track, the tempo slows down as she moves on to some covers; Alt J’s Tessellate and Elton John’s Your Song. The band takes a break as she dons a guitar and plays Guns and Horses from her debut album. “You’re so worth it,” she sings, smiling. Her keyboard player rejoins her to close the slow set with a paired back version of How Long Will I Love You?

Ellie makes time for a quick outfit change and reappears wearing a new kind of swimsuit. This time it’s a two-piece bikini style outfit with a black bra and shorts. My Blood, one of the stand-out tracks from her second album ‘Halcyon’ does not disappoint. The escalation of sounds in the chorus, complimented by tribal chants, is particularly enchanting.

Lights produces some foot stomping from the balcony that almost drowns out her drummer. She returns for the encore with an Irish flag wrapped around her shoulders and brings the concert to a close with You My Everything and Burn.

This is a fun and enjoyable show from a vivacious performer, yet, at times, it almost seems as if it may have been slightly too rehearsed or perfect. It’s almost as if you were “watching something on YouTube,” as one concert-goer remarks.

The transition to a headline stadium tour is a daunting one and while it’s difficult to pin point what exactly was missing from the energetic and entertaining gig, it’s possible that a certain intimacy and magic that is present in smaller venues is lost in the transition to a large scale arena show.

All in all, the gig is exactly what you expect from Ms Goulding at this point in her career. It is a lively, bubbly, feel-good concert that has the audience on their feet dancing and singing along for 99% of the performance. It is a performance well worth seeing.

Ellie Goulding Photo Gallery

Photos: Kieran Frost