Live: Eras tour aka Taylor Swift back in Dublin
I managed to get tickets to two of the three Dublin stops on the Eras tour and of course I have to share the experiences! And there will be photos!
Taylor played at the Aviva Stadium from 28 June to 30 June, the last weekend of the month. I got tickets thanks to Midnights presale last summer. I originally wanted to go to all three dates, but on Friday Ticketmaster marked me as a bot (I didn’t like the tickets it offered me and I threw them away and looked for better sections). Fortunately, it worked out for Saturday and Sunday and I secured tickets for me and two other friends.
As for the Aviva stadium, it has a capacity of around 50,000 people and I was there only once before the Eras tour and that was in 2012, at my first Irish concert, for Lady Gaga. I had a standing ticket at the time and my friend and I were really close and it was very nice. So I had such a “full circle” moment on the Eras tour, when before Taylor started, the Applause by Gaga played.
I’ve already been to Taylor once, in 2018, when she came to play in Dublin as part of the Reputation tour. Back then she played in Croke Park, which has a capacity of over 80,000 people and was really huge. If you are interested in what it was like – you can read it here.
And now back to this year. After the Rep tour, I became an even bigger Swiftie and I definitely wanted to see Taylor live again. Mainly because during the Rep tour I didn’t know and appreciate all the songs and now I knew it would be the exact opposite. So let’s do it!
SATURDAY 29/06/2024 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
My friend E. and I had tickets for sitting in the so-called nosebleeds. Those are the seats at the very top and they are called nosebleeds because some people can get sick there and literally start bleeding from the nose. We sat in the corner between the sections to the right and across from the stage. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure about the tickets. After all, you want to see something, but I was also afraid of what the atmosphere would be like. As soon as we walked in, weight fell off my mind, because we had a great view. As for the atmosphere, the whole stadium stood for 3 and a half hours and we danced and sang. The atmosphere was divine. I’m very glad that all those horror stories on socials didn’t happen to us (for example, that people around you scream a lot during all the songs). So I sang every song too, but the music and Taylor were so loud that I couldn’t hear myself.
At the entrance, they gave us, just like during the Rep tour, wristbands where you took off the tag and then they lit up during the whole show. Aviva also surprised me because in addition to alcohol and drinks, they sold solid food – pretzels, chicken nuggets with fries and burgers. Normally in Ireland they only sell popcorn and stuff.
The opening act was Paramore, who played for about 45 minutes. Teenage Terez enjoyed them very much. I was even lucky that they added Misery Business to the setlist (the song wasn’t originally there because of one part of the lyrics). I will never forget the effect this song had on me 17 years ago (I feel old). Hayley is divine live and I can only recommend Paramore.
There was a short break after Paramore to set up the back of the stage and as Lady Gaga started to perform, on the left we could see the infamous broom box that carried Taylor behind the stage. Behind that box, the dancers and the band walked. After the Applause, a countdown appeared on the screen and then the show began.
The show started when it was cloudy and there were seagulls sitting on Aviva’s roof. Like the bigger ones. Counting down to Taylor herself, the sky was already blue and we had the best possible atmosphere for such a concert. My friend and I didn’t dress extra because it rained all day. But most of the swifties were wearing very nice costumes and you could see that everyone was really enjoying it.
Taylor took the stage during the beginning to Miss Americana and Heartbreak Prince, opening the entire show. The Eras tour consists of songs from Lover, Fearless, Red, Speak Now, Reputation, folklore and evermore, 1989, The Tortured Poets Department and Midnights (only the debut is missing). Between TTPD and Midnights there is a segment with surprise songs.
What can I tell you, from the very beginning she conquered the entire stadium. We screamed and danced and sang (sorry to everyone filming near me) and cried. I couldn’t believe that I was hearing and seeing her live again. The atmosphere was really special and so much energy in one place! It really is an experience to stand in a crowd of 50,000 and have everyone sing along with Taylor. She danced and ran and sang on stage for dear life. She also had a few speeches and after champagne problems we gave her approx. a 5 minute standing ovation where she took off her in-ears and couldn’t believe how loud we were.
My highlight was when we sang some parts really loud during certain songs, the so-called chant. For example, in the All Too Well 10 minute’s version it’s “fuck the patriarchy” and it was really electrifying to shout that part with 50,000 other people. And also during Blank Space there is a “Sydney” chant in Australia, we put “Dublin” in Dublin because it fits there nicely. Don’t know what it’s about? Take a look here:
Surprise songs!
I legit won because Taylor did a mash-up of Albatross (from TTPD) and Dancing with our hands tied (from Reputation). The second mash-up was This Love (from 1989) and Ours (from Speak Now). That made my so forking happy. I literally yelled something like “I fucking won” and the lady next to me looked at me like if I was ok. Obviously not. Who would be!?
SUNDAY 30/06/2024 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
On Sunday, I went with another friend and we again had tickets for the seating (yes, I’m a little sad that I didn’t go for the standing in the end). We were still sitting on the same side of the stadium, but one floor down and almost opposite the stage. We were closer to Taylor, yes.
Just like the day before, they gave us a wristband when we entered, which then flashed during the show. This section was also very good and everyone was singing and dancing. Paramore was still the opener.
What was different from Saturday? For example, the fact that the musician Stevie Nicks and the actresses Florence Hunt (Bridgerton) and Julia Roberts were in the VIP tent. During the show, Taylor’s current boyfriend, Travis Kelce, also arrived at the stadium (he was supposedly in America for someone’s wedding). She spotted him in a tent during the folkmore era and totally lit up. For the last song of the night, Karma, she then famously changed the lyrics to “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs”! (Travis Kelce is a very famous football player for the Kansas Chiefs)
This was the final show in Dublin and Taylor was aware of it from the start. Right at the beginning of the Lover set, she promised us that the previous two shows were just warm-ups. And it was recognizable. The energy and atmosphere was on another level. And it’s truly amazing that both Taylor and her band and dancers can put on a show like this several nights in a row (my body would just say no after the first night).
Otherwise, after another stunning standing ovation after champagne problems, Taylor announced that she and the band would have to move to Ireland. Don’t threaten me with a good time, Taylor.
Surprise songs this evening were Clara Bow (from TTPD and because Stevie Nicks mention) and a mash-up with The Lucky One (from Red). She then independently sang You’re On Your Own, Kid (from Midnights) for Stevie Nicks on the piano.
After the concert, Travis and Taylor met behind the stage and left hand in hand. But Travis imitated Tom Holland and amused the Swifties:
You’re probably wondering what it’s like to go to a concert like this and hear more or less only the greatest hits that everyone already has heard million times. I wasn’t sure for example what the Red era will be like, because how many more times can I hear We are never ever getting back together and I knew you were trouble. Probably Taylor’s greatest hits and they’re great songs, but you know how it is with constantly played songs. After a while, the excitement of hearing them is just not there anymore. Fortunately, live, Taylor was still able to bring them to life so unbelievably. The energy was still there, we were all just singing like they were brand new singles. To be honest, no era was boring to me, I enjoyed all the songs. Every song left me wanting more. It was great.
I am very very happy that I had the opportunity to go and hear and see Taylor live again. And I have to admit that if I could go to more concerts, I would definitely go again. I understand that Taylor is not everyone’s cup of coffee, but imagine your favorite artist playing a 3 and a half hour show. It’s just every fan’s dream.
And if you are swifties, I hope you had the chance to go and experience the Eras tour for yourself. It’s really worth it and it’s an unforgettable experience. I’m just wondering what to do with life now.
