Despite watching every tantalising Eras Tour snippet that crossed my social media , nothing could have prepared me for Taylor Swift . As a lifelong Swiftie, I have only ever seen my idol once when she appeared with Haim at the O2 – but that was all about to change at Edinburgh night one. The fandom that follows the icon has been jokingly called a cult or a religion but I’m not kidding when I say the whole thing felt like a religious experience.
I’ve always loved Taylor for her ability to articulate in song what I’m feeling at various points in my life so hearing it all live was overwhelming. I’m not ashamed to say I cried multiple times. The entirety of Edinburgh was buzzing as Swiftiemania took over , and merchandise could be seen everywhere.
Naturally, before the Murrayfield Stadium gig started, Swifties gathered and traded friendship bracelets whenever possible. While it may seem cringeworthy to some, bracelets embody the larger ethos of the show. This is not a concert for a casual fan; it’s an outpouring of love from Taylor to Swifties.
Finally, at 7.15 pm, the music stopped and the infamous countdown clock reached 0. The roar let out by fans was deafening – earplugs are a must for this gig.
It’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement of it all, even Taylor had a look of sheer delight on her face as she introduced the tour and took us through Lover. The well-documented setlist only increased excitement as fans sang along to every single lyric at an eve.
