is a powerhouse – and I have no idea how she does it. Last week, she played her 100th show of the epic Eras Tour at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium. A three-hour spectacle filled with costume changes, intricate choreographies and some truly breathtaking vocal performances, the concert charts each of Taylor’s 11 albums with surprise songs and an incredible firework finale.
I was lucky enough to score tickets for Taylor’s last Liverpool show on June 15, before she heads off to Cardiff, London and Dublin for her latest UK and Ireland dates. We arrived at Anfield an hour before doors opened at 4pm, wary of queues and bag searches. Thankfully everything was well organised, right down to the snaking merchandise queue, where I scooped a jumper bearing Taylor’s impressive cohort of tour dates.
We had standing tickets, so as soon as we’d grabbed our complimentary light-up wristbands and some drinks, we sat down cross-legged on the metal panels spread out over the pitch – aware we’d be standing for more than four hours in total. It was around 6:15pm that support act Paramore took to the stage with energetic renditions of Hard Times and Ain’t It Fun, before launching into their classic pop-punk hit Misery Business. Front-woman Hayley Williams was a tiny but captivating figure as she bounced up and down the length of the stage, confessing how much of an honour it was to rally the crowds for Taylor.
It was a strange one seeing the trio in their 50-minute support slot after w.