Review of Eras Tour: part 1
a semi-in-depth look at attending Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Edinburgh
Table of Contents
Introduction
Venue
Production
Costumes
Set lists
Rapid review of each era
Last reflections
After patiently waiting for over a year, I finally made it to the Eras tour *screams*. I wasn’t able to secure tickets closer to where I live (I have many thoughts on this, but maybe for the next part) so I attended the show in Edinburgh, Scotland for N3 - where TS played 3 shows back-to-back.
This review will be split into two parts:
part 1 talking about the concert itself
part 2 discussing the finances and what I did in Edinburgh as part of the concert experience. So it’ll simultaneously be a financial + travel + food review.
Disclaimer: Since I am a personal finance account, I normally would like the financial portion of my content to be freely available. However, for anything that contains a bit more personal information, such as my itinerary, accommodation, outfit details and personal stories, I’ve decided I will have this content behind a paywall.
However, I will still share some finance-related bits in this part so that for anyone who doesn’t want to subscribe to the paid portion of the newsletter can still have some insights.
Disclaimer: The following will contain spoilers about the Eras Tour including set list, outfits, and the production. If you do not want spoilers do not proceed!
The concert was held at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh with a seating capacity of 67,1441. It is conveniently located near at a tram stop which goes directly into the city centre and the airport. Overall, I think it was a decent venue. From what I could see, there were many options for food and drink (I personally did not get anything as we ate dinner beforehand). I was also really impressed that they allowed sealed 500 ml water bottles into the venue, so I was able to bring that along with a protein bar. Definitely look at the prohibited items list beforehand, because I almost brought my camera which would have been less than ideal. While I don’t consider it professional photography equipment (mainly because I am an amateur), it may have been regarded as such.
Edinburgh closed all of the streets and the rest of city centre to cars and buses after the concert. The old stone bridges and cobblestones were working overtime that night with concert goers spilling into the streets after the concert ended. While it took some time, we made it back to our hotel after 30 - 40 mins of walking, but it was incredibly smooth. The staff working in the city throughout the night were phenomenal. In general, transportation throughout the city for our stay there was probably between £15 - 30 as we did use the tram to and from the airport and a couple of Ubers to get around.
One thing that we should have considered is buying merch before the concert. I believe merch was available prior to doors opening for the concert and for good reason - the merch lines were insane. While I was not actually that keen on any of the merch, I know that my friends were and actually missed most of the Reputation and half of the Folklore / Evermore sets to buy merch. In the next review, I will speak more about transportation, accommodation, food, activities, timing and outfit details for the day of.
Compared to other TS concerts I have been to, this was one of, if not the most, impressive concert production I have ever seen. Between the Paramore and TS sets, videos of behind-the-scenes of her music videos played on the screens and a large timer appeared when it got closer to TS’s debut.
Lady Gaga’s Applause blared across the stadium, hyping the crowd up to TS’s eventual appearance. Her dancers emerged with these massive billowing clams, beautifully dancing in the wind before being placed strategically down on the small black box TS would show up on.
And from then, it was a continuous rapid fire of each era, one more elaborate than the other. The dancers and musicians were phenomenal throughout the concert - I was really pleased to see the lead guitarist, Paul Sidoti, still touring with TS. I remember seeing him for the first time during the Fearless tour - it’s quite heartwarming to see that type of long-standing collaboration and loyalty from an artist like TS. There were also incredible sets such as the Folklore cabin - which was my personal favourite. Regrettably, due to the orientation of our seats, I don’t think I experienced the full effect of the staging since I didn’t see the main backgrounds for the stage but it was still incredible.
Let’s talk about the outfits for one second because oh. my. god. Each bedazzled and sparkly bodysuit she wore was phenomenal. Perfectly fitted to her and stunning (I guess that’s what billionaire money can get you). My jaw actually dropped seeing her bodysuit for Vigilante shit (amongst other things). The Roberto Cavalli Reputation bejeweled snake bodysuit was also unreal from an artistic point of view. I felt so much nostalgia seeing an elevated version of the gold fringe dress for Fearless and iconic looks from Red.
But I think the outfits I loved the most throughout the concert were the long formal dresses she brought out for specific songs / eras. Most notably, her dress for Enchanted and Folklore/Evermore were *chefs kiss*. Probably two of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen. Period.
Also, did anyone else spot those custom Christian Louboutins throughout the show? I can’t even imagine how much each of those shoes would have cost. I still don’t know how she goes through all those outfit changes in one night but I’m so glad she does because it really contributes to the whole experience.
In total, including the opening act which was Paramore, the concert lasted a whooping 4 1/2 hours.
As someone who has gone to previous world tours for her past albums (notably Fearless, Speak Now and 1989) this was a long concert. Surprisingly enough, this concert also cost only slightly more than previous ones I had been to - £85 per ticket2 which in my opinion was a steal.
We were seated in section 36 on the upper level on the side of the left stage. While it did not have the best view of the stage, it was a neat place to be seated because we could see the dancers / band members arriving and leaving and the setup for the stage being transported between the back stage onto the main stages.
In terms of timing, Paramore started at 6:15 pm and ended at around 7:00 pm. TS started approximately at 7:15 pm and ended just shy of 10:30 pm.
Initially, I was a bit surprised at how early the concert started because I had heard from friends in the U.S. that TS won’t come on until 8:00 pm but I’m guessing there are some strict curfew laws in Edinburgh (and maybe the UK more broadly) that restrict events from going past 11:00 pm.
Paramore set list (I think I missed a few songs since we arrived a bit late to the venue, but I will list as many as I remember):
Still into you
Forgiveness
Brick by boring brick
The only exception
Misery business
Ain’t it fun
This is why
I was actually surprised at how many songs I did know from Paramore. Hayley Williams is a phenomenal vocalist!
And of course, Taylor’s (whopping) setlist
Lover
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince (shortened)
Cruel Summer
The Man
You need to calm down
Lover
Fearless
Fearless (shortened)
You belong with me
Love story
Red
*Intro that included elements of State of grace, Holy ground, and Red*
22
We are never ever ever getting back together
I knew you were trouble (shortened)
All too well (10 minute version)
Speak Now
*Intro that included Castles crumbling*
Enchanted (shortened)
Reputation
… Ready for it?
Delicate
Don’t blame me (shortened)
Look what you made me do
Folklore / Evermore
Cardigan (shortened)
Betty (shortened)
Champagne problems
August
Illicit affairs (shortened)
My tears ricochet
Marjorie (shortened)
Willow
1989
Style (shortened)
Blank space
Shake it off
Wildest dreams (shortened)
Bad Blood (shortened)
The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD)
Intro that included elements of My boy only breaks his favorite toys, Who’s afraid of little old me, Loml, So long, London, But daddy I love him
But daddy I love him / So high school
Who’s afraid of little old me (shortened)
Down Bad (shortened)
Fortnight
The smallest man who ever lived
I can do it with a broken heart
Acoustic set / Surprise songs
It’s nice to have a friend x Dorothea (on guitar)
Haunted x Exile (on piano)
Midnights
Lavender Haze
Anti-hero
Midnight rain
Vigilante Shit
Bejeweled
Mastermind
Karma
Admittedly, I am not a Lover fan - it is personally not my album but I thought Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince was such a fun song to open up to. The Man was also a great performance and I enjoyed the staging of the office cubicles and dancers, as it really contributed to the overall message of the song. All in all, I did enjoy the Lover portion of the concert so much and was a great way to begin Eras.
As a Fearless stan I was simultaneously nostalgic and slightly disappointed. Nostalgic because the staging and outfits for Fearless were distantly reminiscent to the Fearless tour, but slightly disappointed because it was clear that the production value was far less for Fearless than other Eras (notably the most recent ones, which does make sense, but still). I feel quite conflicted on which would have been better, because on the flip side, a big production for Fearless may not have felt as natural and organic to what that album represents, but also, put some respect on my album!!
With that being said, I am so so so happy she kept Fearless in the setlist, because while You belong with me and Love story are iconic, I think the album deserved more than just those two songs. I love the nod to the gold fringe dress and thought the songs were great.
I loved the red music box intro for Red, specifically because it included songs I knew we wouldn’t hear *single tear* but are some of my favourites on the album.
It was incredibly sweet to see the hat she wears and gives away for 22 being given to a little girl in the crowd. I bet that will be a moment they will remember forever. I love how that’s a part of each concert.
Overall, I think Red was a really fun set. The coat TS wore for the All Too Well 10 minute version was insane. It was my favourite song of the set because I did enjoy how simple it was - just her, the fans, and a guitar.
Incredibly saddened that Speak Now only has 1 main song as part of the setlist. Granted, it’s a good one, but I was looking forward to seeing Long Live in concert again.
Everything about Enchanted was beautiful though. The dress she wore was jaw dropping gorgeous, and the way it glided behind her as she walked across the stage - truly enchanting *bu dum tsk*. Definitely a more mature and elevated version of the classic purple gown we recognize with the Speak Now era.
My only and big complaint is that it should have been the whole song instead of the shortened version - especially if we now only get 1 Speak Now song.
I am also not a Reputation girly but what I will say is that this set was incredible. The production was phenomenal. It was high-energy and so visually stimulating all the way through. I found myself really getting into the album, which I was surprised about.
I especially loved the production for Look what you made me do, with the dancers in glass showcases wearing iconic looks TS wore over the years. I spotted the You belong with me cheerleading outfit and the You need to calm down rainbow jacket, initially, but there were so many more symbolic looks that were shown. I really enjoyed it.
I think Folklore / Evermore was my favourite era of the whole night. When Taylor begins singing Cardigan on the roof of the Folklore cabin in the beautiful long flowy cream white dress, it was absolutely stunning. It started to rain a bit as well from what I could tell, which contributed to the melancholy nature of the overall set.
Hearing Champagne problems and Marjorie live was such a dream. I wish they had not shortened Marjorie, personally, but it was still amazing to hear it.
Also the transition from a light, airy cabin to a dark and gloomy graveyard for Willow was excellent. I loved this set so much!
The set for 1989 brought back so much nostalgia. Starting 1989 with Style was so fun, and I loved the ode to Harry Styles through the dancers outfit. It was a nice touch.
Shake it off, which is personally not one of my favourite songs from the album, was very fun and got the whole stadium bumping (although most of us have been on our feet this whole time already)!
The fire during Bad Blood near the end of the set was incredible and I personally love Wildest Dreams as well - I wish both songs hadn’t been shortened. At this point, the sun was really setting in Edinburgh and created the perfect conditions for TTPD.
I really enjoyed the TTPD production. It was a little dark, a little moody, and just beautifully done.
The way I screamed when she was performing Who’s Afraid of little old me? and specifically the lyrics “…and I levitate down your street….” and the box she was standing on started moving, as if she was levitating across the stage, was *chefs kiss*. I love little details like that.
Who’s Afraid of little old me? was definitely my favourite from the set but I can do it with a broken heart was the perfect song to end, and I loved the cabaret-style dancing and theme for it as well.
I mean there’s really nothing else to say than Haunted x Exile is there? I am floored I got this combination, since she had done Haunted x Exile in Sydney. It was so so so euphoric seeing this on piano. I mean, everything about both Haunted and Exile together was perfection and I’m so happy I got another Speak Now song.
She came out wearing a pink and red-ish long gown and thought it looked great photographed (not on my phone clearly, but I’m sure it looked amazing with the professional photographers present).
I really enjoyed hearing Dorothea live as well, but admittedly, thought it could have been paired with a better song than It’s nice to have a friend. But that’s just my personal opinion. It was so so so worth it for Haunted x Exile - my favourite of the night by far.
Last but not least - Midnights. I’m also personally not a Midnights girl, but this was a banger of a last era. The performances, the dancers, the outfits, everything about this set was perfect. I would say it rivalled if not surpassed Reputation and TTPD in production value. I was gob smacked watching Vigilante Shit. It was quite simply sex appeal on a stage.
Karma was a spectacle in itself. All the dancers and Taylor on stage, the fireworks and confetti - absolutely incredible. A fitting closing for pro one of the most well thought out and executed concerts of all time (whether you are a TS fan or not, there is no denying the production value of the show).
To be honest, leading up to the concert I was incredibly stressed because I’m not super used to being in big crowded spaces anymore and was dreading the logistical nightmares that come with going to Taylor Swift - especially attending it in a different city than where I live.
However, Edinburgh was such a dream to experience such an event - everyone was so friendly and the vibe across the city was phenomenal. I loved seeing everyone in their outfits across the whole city and the concert, singing and dancing to their favourite songs. It really felt like I was part of a moment in history watching TS on stage - it was so surreal. Getting to experience this with my best friend from uni and her family and friends (who have become mine as well over the years) was the cherry on top to a fantastic trip and experience.
Eras, thank you.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murrayfield_Stadium
Important to note that previous tickets were purchased in CAD and inflation and cost of items look very different from 2015 (the last time I went to a TS concert) compared to 2024