Taylor storms Sydney: Eras tour shows star at peak of her powers
It was one of the greatest concerts that Sydney has ever seen. And what’s even better is that there are still three more to go. Re-live Taylor Swift’s first night at Accor Stadium.
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Taylor Swift just made it all worth it. The nine months of the Era Tour Great Ticket War.
The spoilers of that Eras Tour concert film last year which teased her Australian fans four months before her shows here.
And the thunderstorm which saturated tens of thousands just as they arrived at Accor Stadium, kept the arena seating closed until half an hour before show time and cancelled Sabrina Carpenter’s opening set.
All of it ceased to matter the second the Eras queen took the stage to a deafening roar which swelled into an ear splitting crescendo as fans assumed their backing singer role on Cruel Summer.
“Sydney you are making me feel absolutely phenomenal,” she said before launching into The Man.
She told the 81,000-odd fans that she felt “swept away” by the reaction.
Swift, who has performed in Sydney five times before, said she had “made many memories here” and last night’s show was special — not the least because her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce was in the crowd.
An obviously love-struck Kelce, carried a broad grin throughout the show — broken only when he sang along to the crowd favourites.
The audience became the backdrop to rival her epic screens, their coloured wristbands and phone lights turning the stadium into a cavern of fairy lights.
Like her fellow pop stars getting back up to speed with world tours after the three-year pandemic halt, she shared with fans that she gets they made a big commitment to get to an Eras show.
READ KATHY McCABE’S FULL REVIEW FROM LAST NIGHT
KARMA IS THE GUY ON THE CHIEFS
And she didn’t forget about her new beau, Travis Kelce. Swift changing the lyrics of ‘Karma’ to ‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me’.
🚨| Taylor Swift changed the "Karma" lyric at tonight's show of 'The Eras Tour'! #SydneyTSTheErasTour
— The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) February 23, 2024
"Karma is the guys on the Chiefs!"
pic.twitter.com/8ItOyZKRov
A CRIME AGAINST SYDNEY
After her having her performance cancelled due to rain, Taylor Swift called up her support act Sabrina Carpenter to share the stage with her late during her first performance in Sydney.
Swift labelled it ‘a crime against Sydney’ that she was not able to deliver her show to the crowd who had been cleared from the stadium floor as storms moved across the stadium.
Together the two performed a mash-up White Horse, from Swift’s second album Fearless, and Coney Island from the album Evermore.
taylor and sabrina singing “white horse†together on the eras tour stage ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ #SydneyTSTheErasTourpic.twitter.com/pXGp0EXt0a
— ⥠(@dailytaybrina) February 23, 2024
Earlier, Swift revealed to the world for the first time the name of a bonus song off her new album The Tortured Poets Department to be released in April.
Her first surprise of the evening was ‘How You Get the Girl’.
SWIFT GIVES AWAY 22 HAT
THE 22 HAT TONIGHT ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜#SydneyTSTheErasTourpic.twitter.com/4pp3qUsdtE
— jake (eras tour TODAY) (@taylorsrep13) February 23, 2024
Taylor Swift made the wish of one young girl come true when she gave away her hat she wears while performing the song 22.
The fan she gave the hat to on Friday night belonged to a 9-year-old from Perth named Scarlett who had been diagnosed with brain cancer and it was her wish to meet Swift.
The superstar knelt down and embraced Scarlett who, according to her stepmother Natalie Chadwick, has only 12 to 18 months to live.
“Scarlett was granted a ‘Wish’ from the Make A Wish Foundation and her wish was to meet Taylor Swift,” she wrote.
WEBSITE GOES DOWN
Meanwhile if you are trying to purchase anything on the Tay Tay website. Her official sites in both Australia and the USA have gone down. Not sure what that means, but when it happened before it was before a big announcement.
Just mere speculation.
In the meantime here a couple of pics of Taylor-gators outside the stadium.
SOME MORE PICS FOR YOU
YES WE DO, TAY-LA
🚨| Taylor Swift on Australian's pronunciation of her name at tonight's show of 'The Eras Tour'! #SydneyTSTheErasTour
— The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) February 23, 2024
"You pronounce my name cuter than anyone else in the world!" pic.twitter.com/eGGVM3C7uz
SWIFT GREETS HER FANS
Taylor Swift has welcomed her adoring fans to the first of four concerts in Sydney. Calling Sydney one of the most exciting city’s in the world she just referenced the mega storm that greeted fans and momentarily cleared the stadium floor.
“I have never known Aussie crowds that let anything get in the way,” Swift told her 81,000 fans to universal agreement.
Outside the stadium hundreds of Swifies gathered, singing along to every lyric as Swift’s hit songs boomed into Sydney Olympic Park.
Spirits were high despite so many missing out on the highly-prized tickets.
FIRST PICS OF TAYLOR SWIFT’S SYDNEY CONCERT
MORE FIRST NIGHT TAY TAY PICS
KATY PERRY, RITA ORA JOIN SWIFT
And we’re away. Taylor Swift has taken to the stage for her first Sydney concert since 2018.
Fans are soaked and soaking up the superstar’s opening numbers Miss Americana. Heartbreak Prince and Cruel Summer.
This is the moment Sydney has been waiting for since tickets since July, 2023 when Ticketek went into meltdown.
And there is some superstars in her entourage tonight and not just her boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Alongside him as special guests are Katy Perry who has also just jetted into the country and Rita Ora as well as her hubby Taika Waititi.
#SydneyTSTheErasTourpic.twitter.com/s4x8TnBXOd
— Kotomi 🫶✨THE ERAS TOUR TOKYO 4DAYS!🇯🇵🇦🇺🇬🇧 (@_taytaytay13) February 23, 2024
SABRINA CANCELLED
Taylor Swift’s support act Sabrina Carpenter has been cancelled due to the weather activity that forced the stadium floor to be evacuated.
The crowd is now moving back into the stadium as the weather clears for Swift’s first Sydney concert.
The excitement is rising again now with Swift’s appearance on stage now imminent.
WE ARE SO BACK #SydneyTSTheErasTourpic.twitter.com/RZCT1LWw8N
— Joseph (@JosephTheJStar) February 23, 2024
CROWDS MOVED DUE TO LIGHTNING
The weather has moved in over Accor Stadium and crowds have just been cleared from the stadium floor ahead of the first Taylor Swift concert as rain buckets down. Loud screaming can be heard as huge cracks of thunder and lightning hit Olympic Park.
Swift is famous for performing rain, hail or shine but an Aussie summer storm is a different ballgame.
Fans who have been evacuated from the Taylor Swift floor have made their own fun, breaking out in song. #TaylorSwiftAustralia#ErasTourSydney#TaylorSwiftpic.twitter.com/j6sjmE4OaJ
— Emily Kowal (@KowalEmily) February 23, 2024
Along with the stadium floor, rows 1 to 20 have also been cleared and moved due to lightning strike danger.
Messages played over loud speaker at Accor Stadium said: “due to weather, show start time has been delayed.
“Stay undercover until further notice and follow venue screens and staff instructions.
“Stay safe and remember to be kind to those around you.”
The new start time has not been announced, however, and fans are taking cover wherever possible.
The floor of the stadium, where A-reserve ticket holders will be seated, has been evacuated due to flooding.
Outside the stadium, lines for merch stands have not been cut-off, with hundreds still waiting to purchase Taylor themed goods.
Security and police are blocking entrances within Accor Stadium due to severe weather, with fans forced to camp inside the bottom floors grandstand.
Huge lines are snaking up and down ramps, as punters wait to be seated.
“This is chaos,” one fan was heard yelling.
Despite thousands of colourful costumes being covered by ponchos, Swifties say the rain will make Taylor’s performance “even more special”.
“She always looks amazing in the rain,” 16-year-old Erin Brady said.
“It makes it that little bit more special.”
Despite the rain, she and her sister Grace and friend Sophie Durbin don’t plan to cover up their matching costumes.
“No way we are doing that,” they said.
SYDNEY IS READY
I AM A SWIFTIE FOR LIFE
The obsession with Taylor Swift is ridiculous. It’s over the top, excessive and completely blown out of proportion — and I love it.
It wasn’t intended, but somewhere along the lines, about 17 years ago, Taylor Swift became a part of my identity.
I was eight years old, sitting in the back of the car while we drove up the coast. I heard You Belong With Me and that was it, my heart was stolen (or perhaps glittered). The end result was the same — I was a Swiftie.
For all you Swifties out there, our reporter Emily Kowal understands exactly how you feel. Read her fantastic piece here.
SWIFT CONCERT FLIGHTS CANCELLED
Taylor Swift fans are up in arms over several cancellations of crucial flights to Sydney from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The flights were cancelled due to severe storms expected to hit Sydney Airport on Friday afternoon cancelled n, just hours before the first of Swift’s four shows in the city.
Virgin had two flights scheduled for Brisbane departures at 4.05pm and 7.35pm which were cancelled, while Jetstar had two flights with 5pm and 7.30pm cancelled.
A further three flights have been cancelled to travel to Sydney from Brisbane Airport this afternoon, while two are expected to experience up to hour-long delays.
“It has all been quite stressful,” an anxious passenger said. Read all about it at The Courier-Mail.
40,000 FAILED PHONE CALLS
They have got their friendship bracelets, their hand made costumes, their sparkly hats and enough excitement to power a small town - the only thing best friends Anastasia and Nicola, 10, are missing is tickets to the concert.
It won’t stop them though from having the time of their life.
The best friends will Taylor-Gate tonight, and plan on dancing the night away with mum Tracey Paul.
“We called radio stations over 40,000 times but had no luck.”
Although the girls won’t enter the sacred doors, they have been wowed by the Taylor Swift community.
“It’s been really really lovely,” said Tracey.
“We have had people coming up giving the girl’s bracelets - this is the nicest environment.”, she said.
“Everyone feels so comfortable and confident. It’s brilliant,” she said.
“They are really loving. What we have created is really cute; the reading bracelet is really genuine. Everyone is really nice wnd probable
Sisters and friends Mia Khoury, 14, Bella Khoury, 18, Izzy Isaac, 18, have all travelled from western Sydney to see Taylor.
All are normally a little shy about meeting new people, but at Taylor Swift, anyone can approach anyone.
“I have gotten confidence from this tour,” said Bella, and said Taylor Swift creates a community.
- Emily Kowal
HIGH COST OF FANDOM
Being a Swiftie doesn’t come cheap! In fact - it can cost you more than $10,000, according to besties Nicola Dodson and Ruby Ismay.
They’ve spent a total of about $20,000 to see Taylor perform at three Melbourne and three Sydney shows.
For each show, there’s new, handmade costumes, dozens of friendship bracelets, accommodation, flights and tickets.
While the cost may sound crazy - the besties say it’s all worth it, because it led them right into the arms of their hero.
“We’ve both met her,” Nicola said, holding a picture of her hugging Taylor Swift.
“We were pulled out from the crowd at previous Sydney concerts. We go way back.”
The popstar even follows Nicola on Tumblr, liking many of her posts over the years.
“We love being part of this community,” Ruby said.
“You make so many friends, everyone is so nice and it just feels really special to be here.”
- Madeline Crittenden
OFFICIAL DENIED LEAVE PASS
Transport officials have their work cut out tonight as thousands of Swifties make their way to Accor stadium via buses and trains.
However, they will have to fly solo with one of the State’s top transport bureaucrats stuck in a Budget Estimates hearing in Parliament House.
We hear formal requests were made for both Transport for NSW coordinator general Howard Collins and Sydney Trains chief executive Matthew Longland to be excused from the hearings.
While Longland was given the greenlight to go, Liberal and other non-government members on the transport estimates committee refused to also give Collins a leave pass.
“We need him on the job,” a government source said.
“This is the biggest transport event since the Olympics.”
- Linda Silmalis
SOME MORE PEOPLE ENJOYING THEMSELVES AT ACCOR
SECRET WAY SWIFTIES WITHOUT A TICKET GET INTO THE ACCOR STADIUM
Fans who missed out on tickets have found another way into the concert - by working.
Smriti Giri, 21, missed out on tickets but applied and got a job at Accor stadium, where she will be working the night.
“I was dying to get tickets and couldn’t get them. I used to work at a stadium on Melbourne, so I applied to work at Accor.
“When they offered for me to work Taylor Swift it was a dream come true,”
“I won’t be able able to see her but I’ll be able to listen.”
The 21 year old student might not be able to dress in sequins; but she’s snuck on some friendship bracelets.
“I’m in my reputation era, wearing black. I also braided my hair like she does,” she said.
- Emily Kowal
GARRETT’S CRACK AT TAYLOR SWIFT TICKET PRICES
He is Australian music royalty and there are some things Midnight Oil lead singer Peter Garrett doesn’t like about the Taylor Swift juggernaut.
Speaking on Adelaide radio on Friday morning Garrett had a crack at the amount of money being charged for Swift concert tickets.
“I’m not price gouging like Taylor, to be blunt,” Garrett told 107.1 SAFM’s Mark Soderstrom.
“I wouldn’t begrudge anyone’s success, that’s the first thing to say.,” Garrett said.
“She’s obviously touching a chord with masses of people, particularly people of a certain age group who have experienced growing up at a certain time, and what she’s singing and talking about is really ringing true with them.”
“(The) dollar end of it having looked at it from a distance, having been in this business forever, is pretty brutal.”
BIG BUCKS FOR TAY TAY (BUT IT’S WORTH IT)
Michael Kranz might just win the ‘Dad of the Year’ title, paying more than $2500 for tickets to see Taylor Swift with his daughter Helana.
The dad-and-daughter duo flew to Sydney from Brisbane on Thursday for the concert, using the extra day to buy merch.
“She stocked up,” Michael said. “She bought that with her own money though.”
While it’s usually the girls dragging their dads to see the show, it was actually Michael who introduced his daughter to Taylor.
“I loved her when she was a bit more country,” he said. “Teardrops in My Guitar has always been a favourite for me.”
Dressed in a red sequin dress and cowboy boots, Helana said it was “very special” to share the experience with her dad.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “I’m really lucky”.
- Madeline Crittenden
HERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE HAVING SOME FUN
WHAT TIME DOES TAYLOR SWIFT’S SYDNEY CONCERT START?
Doors open: 4:30pm
Sabrina Carpenter: 6:20pm
Taylor Swift: 7:30pm-8:00pm
Show ends: 11:00pm
WHAT SURPRISE SONGS WILL TAYLOR PLAY IN SYDNEY
Each night of the Eras tour features two surprise songs from Swift’s discography — including bonus tracks from deluxe albums and “From the Vault” tracks from Taylor’s Versions.
During her Melbourne show’s Swift’s surprise songs included:
- “Red” (acoustic guitar); “You’re Losing Me” (piano).
- Mash-up of “Getaway Car,” “August,” and “The Other Side Of The Door” (acoustic guitar); “This Is Me Trying” (piano).
- Mash-up of “Come Back… Be Here,” and “Daylight” (acoustic guitar); “Teardrops on My Guitar” (piano).
There are less than 40 songs remaining that Swift hasn’t performed at all throughout the Eras tour to date, with one or more songs yet to be played from each of her 10 albums.
HOW TO GET TO THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT IN SYDNEY
Travel advice, courtesy of Transport NSW
DON’T DRIVE – YOU WILL NOT GET PARKING
With 300,000 fans expected over four nights from Friday to Monday, ticketholders are urged to leave the car at home and catch public transport to avoid getting caught in traffic delays. As well, on Friday and Saturday nights, a combined crowd of 100,000 is expected as Blink 182 performs next door at Qudos Bank Arena at the same time. Hundreds of additional trains and buses will run to Olympic Park each night, and with the cost of travel already included in your concert ticket, public transport is the easiest way to get there. Simply show your Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concert ticket to transport staff when boarding.
Express and limited-stop trains will run to Olympic Park from Central and Western Line stations from mid-afternoon each day, with frequent return services until late each night. From Olympic Park station, the stadium is a short 10-minute walk away.
Please note that if you are travelling from the upper Central Coast/Newcastle region or the South Coast, trackwork will affect your trip. Plan ahead and allow extra time.
Sydney Olympic Park Major Event Buses will run on all nine routes for all four shows:
Friday and Monday: services will run every 5 to 20 minutes between 2:42pm and 6:33pm, depending on the route. Last return bus leaves Olympic Park at midnight.
Saturday and Sunday: services will run every 5 to 20 minutes between 3:05pm and 6:38pm, depending on the route. Last return bus leaves Olympic Park at midnight.
WEATHER
The forecast for Homebush includes an 80 per cent chance of rain on Friday when Swift’s set of Sydney shows will kick off.
It will be hot and humid out at Homebush with tops of 35
But Accor Stadium won’t let the bleak forecast dampen their plans, claiming that the show will go on “rain or shine”.
“The only exception would be severe weather which could impact the safety of artists and patrons,” a spokesperson from the stadium said.
If it does rain, it will be a full-circle moment for Sydney fans. The last time she played in Sydney, in 2018, her concert was hit by a severe electrical storm, and the singer performed in the rain all night.
Taylor Swift loves coincidences, hidden meanings, and invisible strings, and fans can guarantee that if the heavens do open up, Taylor Swift and fans will find it poetic.
HOW TO GET TAYLOR SWIFT MERCHANDISE
Get there early and join the queue is all we can say. Parents and kids have already secured their souvenirs with the stalls having opened on Wednesday but expect massive queues again if you want to land a piece of Tay Tay merch. Or you could go online.
HERE IS A VIDEO WE LIKE OF TAY TAY AND ROBBIE WILLIAMS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Here’s a guide to all the tips, tricks and hacks learnt from her three sold out Melbourne shows.
ENJOY THE CONCERT
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