‘AN ENCHANTING NIGHT IN TAYLOR TOWN’ | THE ERAS TOUR REACHES LIVERPOOL

LIVE REVIEW | TAYLOR SWIFT | LIVERPOOL ANFIELD STADIUM – NIGHT 2 – 14/06/24 by Bella Proudfoot

Nearly six years since her last tour, over a year and a half since the Eras debut and months of anticipation, Taylor Swift‘s bejewelling Eras Tour finally descended upon Liverpool for its second of three sold-out shows. I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in the mesmerising world of Taylor Swift in both Liverpool night one (13th June) as a fan and night two (14th June) with Northern Exposure to review the show; offering me the opportunity to truly appreciate the mastery of what can’t fairly be described as a concert, but once in a lifetime experience.

These shows mark the first concert dates that Swift has ever played in Liverpool; marking two special days in the Taylor Swift universe, our show happens to have coincided with the fifth anniversary of Swift’s chart-topping, pride anthem ‘You Need To Calm Down and comes just one day after she celebrates a whopping 100 shows of the Eras Tour. Anfield Stadium and all of its’ (approximate) 60,000-70,000 attendees paying effortless tribute to these milestones, transforming the stadium into a vibrant celebration of pride, community and Swift’s illustrious career. The infectious energy of unparalleled joy amid the crowds was so prevalent it felt tangible, soaring through the stadium as fans of all ages trade handmade friendship bracelets, pose for pictures, showcase their Eras outfits and eagerly await the big moment Swift finally takes the stage.

With only a fifteen-minute turnaround between the support and main performances, the undeniably iconic, American rock band Paramore opened the night with an energetic punk-pop performance in which they played a predictably incredible set; highlighting top tracks, fan favourites and their chosen surprise song ‘Caught In The Middle ‘from 2017’s After Laughter album. With only nine songs to choose from their near 20-year career, Paramore performed a perfectly aligning set for the Eras tour, taking us on a brief trip down memory lane of nothing but anthems.

Surrounded by a sea of sparkling dancers, Taylor emerges from underneath an ocean of the dancers’ infamous peacock-like props; as she sings her first line of the night from 2019’s ‘Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince’ the stadium practically shakes with screams and cries of adoration. It feels near impossible to adequately express anything close to the atmosphere throughout Anfield: not only in those first moments of Swift’s performance but during the entire three-hour show.

Taylor Swift (credit TAS Rights Management)

The crowd are an integral part of the Eras experience; their sense of community across Swift’s eighteen-year career has become a hallmark of her shows and now I can see why. I have truly never experienced so much shared excitement and fan-based community in so many people at once than I have at the Eras Tour. I often found myself astounded merely looking around the stadium and observing the hordes of sequinned crowds; attempting to absorb the sheer spectacle of what was happening before me. As the concert drew closer into the evening, mirages of the countless flashing wristbands pulsated in colourful unison to the beats of Swift’s greatest hits; harmonising alongside the tens of thousands of fans’ screaming cries, countless dance routines and ultimately sound tracking the proposal of one lovely couple nearby inducing the applause of their entire surroundings

The Eras Tour marks Swift’s sixth world tour and comes with a set list delivering exactly what it advertises. The show takes the audience through a journey of Swift’s extensive discography featuring around 45 songs that showcase her evolution as an artist and her journey from girlhood to womanhood. From the nostalgic ‘Love Story’ to the defiant ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ almost every era of her career was celebrated (her self-titled debut sadly removed from the European leg of the tour). A select few eras were dressed with meticulously crafted sets where each song was brought to life with beautifully elaborate set designs; ranging from enchanted forest cabins in the Folklore era to a sci-fi asylum encapsulating the world of her latest album The Tortured Poets Department and referencing the album’s title track ‘Fortnight’ music video. The elaborate set designs, stunning array of costumes, intricate dance routines and gorgeous on-screen visuals amassed a truly immersive experience that felt as if I were transcended into Swift’s fantasy worlds.

The Tortured Poets Department and Reputation eras of the show were personal favourites of mine; Reputation specifically honed into the powerful storytelling element of its time in both its dance routines and set design as we watch Swift briefly return to the scorned 2018 version of herself. Both The Tortured Poets Department and Reputation eras flaunted seamless slickness in their performances, delivery and passion. The costumes for Swift and her dancers perfectly represent their respective eras with enough energy to keep the entire stadium on the tip of their toes and screaming at the top of their lungs after arguably the longest show we’ll ever attend.

Unsurprisingly, Swift’s personality shone throughout the duration of the show. Often caught on camera winking, making faces, laughing with crowds and cameras as she dances around the stage reminds people like me (who find it easy to forget that Taylor Swift is in fact a real person) that despite her unparalleled level of fame, Swift remains humble and hilarious. Taking each opportunity she can to talk to her audience, crack jokes, express gratitude and prove just how naturally her showmanship, relationship with her fans and ability to switch and blend between the two comes to her.

Each night of the Eras tour, Swift incorporates a surprise song element of the show, personally choosing a four-song selection from her discography that didn’t make it to Eras tour set list, presumably as a way to feed her insatiable fans. Liverpool night two was lucky enough to receive a mashup of ‘The Great War’ and ‘You’re Losing Me’ from her 2022 album, Midnights as well as fan favourite ‘Goldrush’ from Folklores’ sister album, Evermore mashed up with an Eras Tour debut of ‘This is What You Came For’. Originally written by Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris but performed and released by Harris and Rhianna in 2016; most non-swifties are blissfully unaware of Swift’s involvement with this chart-smashing song, but for those who know, this was a mind-blowing surprise song to be gifted and an honour to be present for.

The Eras Tour was a true masterclass in live performance, theatrics, undeniable star power and easily the best show I have ever witnessed. This was more than just a concert, it was an immersive experience that celebrated the growth of Swift and her fan base; leaving the audience with a once-in-a-lifetime memory (and, from what I can gather through various Eras Tour pages online, crippling post-concert depression). It was fascinating to me just how quickly a three-and-a-half-hour-long show could fly by and, even more so how obviously the crowd would’ve happily stayed for three hours longer. Swift’s ability to connect so deeply with her audience, keeping entire stadiums across the globe hanging by a thread, her determination and drive combined with undeniable talent and mastermind pop stardom is truly what solidifies her status as a true pop icon; perfectly encapsulating exactly why she is the biggest star on Earth.