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WELCOME BACK TO Swiftmania! Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras tour has landed in the UK, our cities flooded with Swifties from all around the world as the 34-yearold megastar plays shows in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Liverpool. Jetting off around Europe after her early summer London shows, Taylor will return on 15 August for another five sell-out performances at Wembley Stadium.
By her side is her new London set, including Kate Moss, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott, as well as clique regulars Cara Delevingne, Lena Dunham and Haim sisters Este and Danielle, who all accompanied her on a recent night out in Notting Hill to Argentinian eater y Casa Cruz. Yes, Taylor even has time for girls’ night despite her gruelling schedule of three to four concerts a week (all double the length of a feature film, we might add) until the end of the year… How does she do it?
This European leg of the tour is markedly different from her previous adventures across North and South America, Asia and Australia – we get the luxur y of an entire new album. The release of The Tortured Poets Department saw Taylor add a new Era to her set list, dropping two songs each from her Folklore and Evermore sets as well as one from the Lover era, and one from Speak Now. That said, the joy of the tour is in her ‘surprise songs’, with her set list changing each performance to give fans a unique experience.
Those who’ve attended the UK shows have dubbed it ‘magical’ and ‘uplifting’. Viral videos online have called it the ‘epitome of girlhood’ to see thousands of women come together in celebration of the music that has scored so many eras of their lives. There’s something heartening about female joy expressed so loudly, particularly in the face of mass ridicule. Swifties have faced intense trolling online for their fanaticism, as is often the case for interests or hobbies enjoyed by women (but we daren’t criticise a man screaming over the Euros, right ?).
