Daughter convinced mum to travel 5,000 miles for Taylor Swift Liverpool gig

A family who travelled 5,000 miles were among the excited Taylor Swift fans who landed at Liverpool Airport for the star's gigs at Anfield.

Taylor's hat-trick of sold out gigs at the home of Liverpool FC begin tomorrow (June 13) and run until Saturday. There is plenty of anticipation for Thursday's show in particular, as it is the 100th gig of Taylor's Eras tour.

Fans, known as Swifities, have been speculating how Taylor will mark the occasion, which takes place on the 13th day of the month - the musician's lucky number. Some theories suggest a new album could be announced, whereas others think she will bring out a special guest - possibly Paul McCartney.

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There was excitement and speculation about the 100th show among fans who arrived at John Lennon Airport on Wednesday (June 12). A number of Taylor's hits were playing from the airport's speakers as passengers touched down in Liverpool.

Many arrived in Liverpool dressed in Taylor merchandise, with customary friendship bracelets on show. Angela Chairez and her daughter Alexa, 10, had travelled from Houston, Texas, for Thursday's show. Their 5,000 mile journey involved two changes and included a city break in Dublin, before they flew over the Irish Sea today.

Alexa told the ECHO: “I’m really excited. Our friends are going to be there and they talked about it and I convinced my parents to come to Liverpool for this. We’re doing all The Beatles sights today as well, so that helped.”

Angela added: "We’ve flown from Houston to Washington, Washington to Dublin, spent a few days in Dublin and then over to Liverpool. We’re in Liverpool for two days. We’re really looking forward to the concert and to check out The Beatles museum.”

Originally from South Africa, Kate Osborne, 28, Devon Clarke, 28, Carmen Clarke, 26, and Travis Clarke, 26, all flew in from Jersey for Thursday's gig. Kate and Devon live on the Channel Island and Carmen and Travis visited them as part of their honeymoon, but they've all come to Liverpool to watch the world's biggest star.

Carmen, from Port Elizabeth, told the ECHO: "Most people come to Liverpool to watch Liverpool FC - but we're here for Taylor.

"It's her 100th show, 13 is her lucky number. We're hoping for an announcement - something is happening. 13 is also our marriage day - we got married on the 13th. Taylor didn't plan that - we did."

Devon, also from Port Elizabeth, added: "There's so much culture and history in Liverpool, so to be here and spend some time here doing things around Liverpool in the time we can is amazing. Seeing all The Beatles stuff, our parents in South Africa love The Beatles, so to be here and see all of that history while seeing Taylor Swift is brilliant."

Travis was also looking forward to seeing the sights. He said: "We're here for two days. We're going to try to do all of the tourist things while we can today and tomorrow is purely for the concert. We're hoping for a brilliant night."

Matthew Woodley, 31, Catherine McCooke, 28, Lewis Caren, 31, and Rebecca Laverty, 27, had travelled from Belfast for the gig. Catherine is glad that Liverpool is hosting the gigs as the city has gone the extra mile and is marking the occasion with a number of attractions, such as the Taylor Trail - a series of art installations placed around the city centre.

She told the ECHO: "It's great that there's a lot going on around Liverpool as well. I think it's a good city to host it because it's doing things that other places haven't, like the Taylor Town stuff. I've seen that some of the bars are changing their menus so it will be a really good few days".

Like her fellow Swifties, Rebecca is hoping that Thursday's show will have a special announcement. She told the ECHO: "I literally cannot wait for the gig. We're very excited. We're at tomorrow's gig - night one in Liverpool.

"We're hoping that we'll get a special announcement from Taylor. It's the 100th show, her half birthday and it's the 13th, so we're hoping for something big.

"We'd heard rumours of Paul McCartney but we're also hoping that 'Reputation (Taylor's Version)' could also be announced tomorrow night."

For Lewis, who is a Liverpool fan, the anticipation was mainly built around going to Anfield. He had brought a Liverpool FC hoodie with him, which had a picture of Taylor Swift holding trophies won during Jurgen Klopp's reign as manager on the back of it.

He told the ECHO: "I'm a Liverpool fan, so I'm very excited to go to Anfield. I wasn't actually able to get any tickets for matches from my membership this year but I managed to get Taylor Swift tickets, so it's any chance to go".

Friends Amber Oakley, 28, and Jo Akitt, 28, flew to Liverpool from the Isle of Man for Thursday's show. Jo said: "We're really excited. I think my 13-year-old self would be so excited that we're going to Taylor Swift."

Amber added: "We signed up for tickets everywhere to see what we could get. We're at Thursday's gigs. Just so excited for all of it - all of the Eras. The show will be about four hours of pure Taylor Swift and we're big Paramore fans as well. It will be a great day.

"We go home on Friday. We're going to see the sights, all the Taylor Trail and go to the concert on Thursday."

Mum and daughter Julie and Ellie O'Connell made the short journey to Liverpool from Belfast. They were caught up in speculation as to what Thursday's show could bring.

Ellie, 25, said: "We're very excited - we've waited a full year for this. It hasn't hit me yet that it's actually happening, it probably won't until we're actually at Anfield on Thursday.

"Thursday's gig is either going to be a huge announcement or there won't be any announcement." Julie, 45, suggested: "Maybe it could be Lana Del Rey - she's a massive Liverpool fan, so I think maybe she would be here."

Ellie added: "We've seen that the city is decked out for Taylor. We're going to the trail as soon as we've checked into the hotel.

"We're here until Sunday. I went to uni here, so I know the city well but we'll do the tourist stuff this time. In the four years I was here, I never got to do the tourist stuff because I was too busy doing the student stuff, so it would be nice to do the museums and everything."

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