Yahoo News Taylor Swift in Liverpool - a story of friendship bracelets, long queues, and travelling more than 4,000 miles to see the world’s biggest pop star
It's not uncommon to see a group of Mancunians run to catch the early morning train to Liverpool Lime Street, as many commute between the two Northern cities on a daily basis.
But on Thursday, the TransPennine Express 10:07am service was buzzing - and it's all because one of the world's biggest popstars is in town for the next three days. Tonight, global superstar Taylor Swift takes to the stage at Anfield for the first of her three dates in the 'City of Pop'.
With a strong musical heritage and famously known to love a party, it seems that the writing was in the stars that Swift should play in Liverpool, before moving on to Cardiff and London next week. While here in Manchester we were a little sad to hear she wouldn't be playing any of our stadiums, we quickly recovered, booked our tickets and headed for Lime Street to join in the fun.
But first, there's time to squeeze in a coffee, and that was the case for two Swifties we bumped into at Piccadilly Station. Friendship is at the centre of the Swiftie fandom so it comes as no surprise concert-goers find lifelong friends online and at Swift’s concerts.
Two new friends who bonded for their love over Taylor Swift include Louise Marguerite, 31 from Salford and 30-year-old Rachel McCusker from Levenshulme. Through mutual friends, the pair ended up meeting in a pub on a night out and connected over their love for the popstar.
Louise said: “I managed to get tickets last June whilst out in Majorca, it was a bit hit and miss because we were an hour ahead. I bought two tickets on a whim and just thought someone’s going to have to come with me.
“Up until like two months ago, it was my boyfriend coming - reluctantly - I said ‘you’re going to come, you’re going to enjoy it!’,” Louise laughed.
Rachel then chimed in saying, “then I met Louise in a pub and I just said ‘I’m coming with you!’”
Louise said Rachel wasn’t a “complete stranger, but a friend of a friend”. She said: “I didn’t just go up to her and say, ‘you look like a Swiftie, come with me.’”
Rachel added: “I got very lucky. I tried about four times with six different email addresses and just had no luck.”
When asked whether the Manc Swifties would have rather the stadium gig play locally, they said they “weren’t really bothered” and that it “feels more like a day out.”
“It’s her 100th tour and she is performing on her lucky number 13. I feel like her surprise song will be ‘the lakes’ because I saw somewhere that she would have had to pass them on her way down from Edinburgh to Liverpool,” Louise said.
Both said the thing they were looking forward to most was Swift's performance of ‘All Too Well (The 10 Minute Version)’ and the atmosphere the popstar will bring.
“I’ve seen loads of TikToks of people who are not Swifties admitting they love the energy and atmosphere of The Eras Tour,” Louise said while Rachel added, “I just can’t wait to see all of the kids who are going to the tour all dressed up and excited - I think it’s adorable.”
Waiting to hop on their train Liverpool Lime Street at Platform 14, it was clear Ross, Rikki, Samantha, and Sarah were headed to The Eras Tour. Having secured their tickets a year ago, the group said “it’s been a long wait.”
Sarah and Samantha predicted her surprise song will be ‘I Can See You’, because she filmed her music video in Liverpool, while others in the group heard rumours it could be ‘Red’ or ‘Wonderland.’ Sarah said she was most looking forward to embracing the iconic Swiftie atmosphere and “being in the same room as people who support Taylor”.
“We’ve not seen The Tortures Poet set before in her Eras Tour so I’m so looking forward to that,” Rikki said.
On the train were Sophie and Shauna from Manchester - who emphasised they were not yet in their Swiftie attire. “Getting tickets to The Eras Tour was like our Glastonbury - we had spreadsheets and everything,” Sophie said.
“Everyone’s saying Paul McCartney is coming out, I don’t want to jinx it, but that could be really cool.”
Heading out of Liverpool Lime Street were 22-year-olds Katie and Maisie from Cheshire. The pair looked like they had stepped off the front cover of a Taylor Swift album as Katie dressed in a bohemian cowboy outfit while Maisie went slightly bolder with her country look.
When asked how did the girls secure their golden ticket to The Eras Tour, Katie said: “We got a pre-sale code to get tickets when we bought Midnights so we’ve been looking forward to her tour for a year.
“I feel like something is going to happen tonight because it is her hundredth show but I have no idea what it’s going to be.”
Maisie then showed me dozens of bracelets she said she made while watching Gossip Girl, which hung off her shimmering handbag in giant bundles.
Meanwhile, queuing for one stop on the Taylor Town Trail which is dotted across Liverpool were 23-year-olds Lauren and Georgie from Stoke, and Lauren’s sister Sarah, 20, who lives in Manchester.
The Taylor Town Trail is an art installation inspired by the global popstar’s work, and is made up of 11 sites. Some of the features of the city tour includes a 7-ft-high butterfly, a moss-covered baby grand piano, two impressive murals, a floral swing bench and a red room, and it will run from June 8 to Sunday, June 16.
Each dressed in outfits inspired by their favourite Swift album, Sarah said going to The Eras Tour with her big sister was like a “full circle” moment.
“Me and my sister always used to listen to Taylor’s albums when we were struggling and we’re here now in a much better place, it’s a chance to celebrate.”
A quick car ride over to Anfield and the area around the stadium was awash with Taylor Swift-inspired outfits, many drawing on her 11 studio albums featured on the setlist including her latest drop, The Tortured Poets Department, which was released in April.
Handing out friendship bracelets near to the merch store was Dave from Saddleworth, a Swiftie for the past eight years, his favourite album has to be Speak Now. "I just love every song," he beamed. "If I was on a desert island and I had one album it would have to be that.
"Eras is my first Taylor concert, but she did the surprise song I was hoping for the other day in Edinburgh, but I won't worry about it. Some of the friendship bracelets I've made nod to Edinburgh and Liverpool, the dates and things like that."
Inside the merch shop, we found Courtney who lives in Orlando, but has travelled over 4,000 miles to get to Anfield today. She and best friend Emily - originally from Las Vegas but settled in Huddersfield - were busy deciding on what t-shirts and hoodies to pick out.
The friends, who have known each other a decade, have been busy creating friendship bracelets ahead of the gig, and have made 45 for the show, swapping and sharing with fellow Swifties around the football stadium.
"This is going to be my fourth show and I'm really excited to see The Tortured Poets Department added to the setlist because I haven't seen that yet," said Courtney. "Taylor has done a really good job at keeping her fans engaged so every show is a little different with the surprise songs."
Outside, and taking shelter, friends Jessica and Rebecca brought much-needed pop of colour to the drizzly and grey Anfield. They've travelled over 4,500 miles to be here for the first Liverpool show.
Having met doing their Masters course in Denver, Colorado, the pair bonded over their love of Taylor Swift. "We were friends and then we decided one day in class that we would come to Liverpool and it's exploded since then," reflects Jessica.
Potentially holding the record for the most bracelets, sisters Mandine and Fany, who have travelled from Paris for the first Anfield date. They made over 1,000 over the last year and were wearing replicas of Taylor's Evermore outfits which she wore during the American leg of the tour.
"We would love for Paul McCartney to come out and specifically sing Sweet Nothing," they said almost in unison. But I don't think she will announce a album or recording because The Tortured Poets Department is doing too well and has only just come out.
"We also make a lot of bracelets to trade because it is such a good way to get to know people and interact. People then follow you on social media and it's such a good way to get out of your shell and make memories."
With the doors opening at 4pm, the queues grew steadily throughout the day, seemingly peaking just as the train started to thrash down - fortunately many had Taylor Swift ponchos to keep the dry and warm. With a long night ahead of them - the 44-set show lasts three and a half hours - they'll certainly need all the cover they can get.
But for two fans who travelled from Manchester this afternoon, they'll have to do it all again. After trying three times to get in this evening they were told that their tickets were in fact for tomorrow's gig.
Keira and Bertie travelled from Manchester Piccadilly earlier today but with tickets for tomorrow. Traipsing back through the station this evening, their spirts were still high they as they had managed to snag some merch and do a a trail run of Anfield.
"Three times we tried and that was about 6pm," laughed Keira at the steps at the top of Piccadilly. "We didn't panic, we just bought some merchandise and had a nice day out.
"We're really looking forward to hearing songs from Midnights and The Tortured Poets department. And we last went to her show in 2019 for the Reputation tour, so we definitely wait until tomorrow."
