Brace yourself, Taylor Swift’s massive Eras Tour is finally making its way to Dublin. If you’ve yet to decide on your outfit as the rest of us have been doing over the past annum, one has to wonder what you’ve been up to. It’s almost time to showcase those cowboy hats, feather boas and all things that shimmer.
Swift, who regularly travels aboard a private plane, has uniquely become the most personable woman in the pop genre by turning her personal woes into unbelievably catchy tracks. The majority of us became acquainted with Swift when her 2008 single Love Story became a sensation. She’s gone through numerous transformations throughout her career. (It’s a tad unnerving to consider that there will be concert-goers who haven’t even been alive when Love Story was initially released.) She dominated the pop scene with her albums Red and 1989, showed a spunkier side in 2017’s Reputation, and provided solace during the pandemic with the release of her dreamy Folklore and Evermore albums. Her recent break-up album, The Tortured Poets Department, set a new record on Spotify as the most-streamed album in a single week.
Incredibly, after winning many Grammys over the past 14 years, Swift continues to reach new heights. One example? Performing tracks from all her different ‘phases’ at one gig. It might have seemed risky, but the payoff has been phenomenal.
The US section of her tour made history last year by generating over a billion dollars (€920,000). Analysts suggest the international portion of the Eras Tour could triple this to nearly $4 billion (€3.7 billion). Last year, reports stated that Swift was earning $27 million for a three-hour show, equating to $150,000 a minute or $2,500 a second. Like her or not, she’s proven herself to be extraordinarily successful. Plus, she’s the first musician to attain billionaire status solely through her music, at just 34 years of age.
Not many artists can claim to boost a local economy whenever they tour, but surprisingly, Swift can. Regardless of Swiftonomics and soaring celebrities, performing live on the back of a successful album is intimidating for any artist. Yet, there’s no question that Swift will live up to the sky-high expectations. So, what should fans anticipate from Swift’s first Irish performance since 2018?
When is her performance scheduled?
The famous performer is set for three shows at the Aviva Stadium on the dates of 28th, 29th and 30th June.
Is it possible to still get tickets and where might I pick up mine?
You must be jesting! If you happen to be perusing this, you’re likely still grappling with the emotional aftermath of the infamous ‘Ticketmaster War of 2023’, as christened by Swift’s global fandom. They clashed with great determination to be at the front of the virtual line and secure the prized tickets for the Eras Tour. Therefore, yes, the concerts are fully booked. However, the rare ticket might surface on ticketmaster.ie for sale at an astronomical price, but it’s worth keeping an eye out if you can’t resist missing out. Purchase only from authorised sources.
What should I do if I possess a ticket but it needs collecting?
If you’re among the fortunate ones attending the show, Ticketmaster collection points will be situated at the junction of Lansdowne Road and Northumberland Road. Those with early entry VIP tickets will receive further details about admission via email from Ticketmaster.
Who will open the show?
The American pop-punk legends, Paramore, will be the opening act for the Swift. As if 50,000 ardent fans weren’t exhilarating enough.
What is the best time to get there?
The entrance gates will open at 5pm, with Paramore expected to kickstart the evening around 6pm. Swift is slated to take the stage at approximately 7:30pm.
What’s the suggested way to commute?
Event organisers have recommended fans to be generous with their travel time to and from the venue. Considering the inevitable traffic and parking delays, it’s best to walk, cycle, take public transport or hire private coach services.
Utilising the Luas: The nearest Luas stop from the stadium requires a considerable walk, approximately taking between 30-40 minutes from Green Line stops such as Ranelagh, Charlemont, Harcourt, St Stephen’s Green, Dawson, and Trinity.
Taking the train: Lansdowne Road Dart station is super close to the stadium’s southern end, making it less than a minute’s journey by foot. However due to inevitable large crowds, a planned approach is advisable.
Using the bus: Aviva Stadium can be accessed by taking Dublin Bus routes 1, 4, 7, 7a, 38, 38a, 47, C1, and C2.
Upon reaching Aviva Stadium, different entrances are designated according to your ticket location:
– For those with Blue Route (West Stand Upper) tickets, use the Shelbourne Road entrance.
– Orange Route (West Stand Lower) ticket holders should enter through Lansdowne Lane.
– Green Route (South Stand and Main Pitch Standing) ticket holders can access via Lansdowne Road.
– Those with Purple Route (East Stand) tickets should approach via Herbert Road/Tritonville Road.
– If you’re holding a Red Route (Gold Circle) ticket, enter through Bath Avenue.
During the weekend, there will be multiple events including a Shania Twain concert in Malahide on Friday; Dublin Pride and Longitude on Saturday; while concerts in Fairview Park and All-Ireland football quarter finals in Croke Park will be spread out across the weekend.
Given the expected high volume of passengers leading to likely delays, Irish Rail has warned travellers to plan their journeys well. Those not attending these events are advised to steer clear of these routes during event times. Please note that Grand Canal Dock Station will be closed after the concerts as per the Garda event strategy for major Aviva Stadium events. Irish Rail will lend support through their events teams stationed at all major event locations for customer assistance.
For those travelling via Intercity, there are confirmed late-night services directly from Heuston to Cork at 12.40am, post the concerts. A connection to Limerick is also available. These services must be pre-booked. Further details can be accessed on irishrail.ie.
Numerous commercial firms offer transport services to and from the venue. Providers include Travel Master, Irish Concert Travel, Concertbus.ie, BusesToConcerts.com, JJ Kavanagh, Matthews Coaches, Halpenny Travel, and East Coast Coaches. Belfast City Sightseeing has also joined in providing these services. Tickets for these services sell quickly, so it is advisable to book your place promptly.
Regarding private vehicles, there is no provision for bike or car parking at the stadium on the days of concerts due to security regulations. However, there are commercial parking spots across the city like Claremont Parking and Q-Park, but these places have limited capacity. Travellers coming into the city from other counties can consider a friend’s driveway within the M50 as an alternative parking option.
In terms of performance, The Eras Tour is a meticulously planned show with a set list that doesn’t deviate much from previous concerts. Post the release of her blockbuster Eras Tour movie that amassed over €239 million last year, recent performances have featured songs from The Tortured Poets Department. Here is a breakdown of the songs she performed on her three-hour-long Lyons show, divided as per albums:
‘Lover’ features ‘Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince’, ‘Cruel Summer’, ‘The Man’, ‘You Need to Calm Down’, and ‘Lover’. ‘Fearless’ includes ‘Fearless’, ‘You Belong With Me’, and ‘Love Story. Under ‘Red’, we have ‘Red’, ’22’, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, and ‘All Too Well’.
‘Speak Now’ comprises ‘Speak Now’ and ‘Enchanted’, while ‘Reputation’ includes ‘… Ready For It?’, ‘Delicate’, ‘Don’t Blame Me’, and ‘Look What You Made Me Do’. And finally, from ‘Folklore/Evermore’ the lineup includes: ‘cardigan’, ‘betty’, ‘champagne problems’, ‘august’, ‘illicit affairs’ and ‘my tears ricochet’.
Referring to the original text, rewrite it. Ensure that the words and sentence structure differ from the original text. Use British English for the response.
Original Text: /”- marjorie
– willow
1989
– Style
– Blank Space
– Shake It Off
– Wildest Dreams
– Bad Blood
The Tortured Poets Department
– Female Rage The Musical (Medley of My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys; Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?; loml; So Long, London; But Daddy I Love Him.)
– So High School
– Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
– Down Bad
– Fortnight
– The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
– I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
Surprise songs
– Glitch/Everything Has Changed
– Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus
Midnights
– Lavender Haze
– Anti-Hero
– Midnight Rain
– Vigilante Sh*t
– Bejewelled
– Mastermind
– Karma
The Swifties, Taylor Swift’s fan base, are always active. If you have a Spotify account, you can check out the playlist created by fans to warm yourself up before her concerts. It has an impressive 1.2 million likes on the platform.
What’s the deal with security?
Unless it is absolutely necessary, you should refrain from carrying a bag. If you do, it will be inspected, causing a delay while the rest of the audience gains quicker access. Any bag brought must not be larger than A4 size. Prohibited items include umbrellas, professional cameras with a big lens, flagstaffs, selfie sticks, banner sticks, anything that could potentially be used as a weapon, glass containers, bottles, cans, flasks, frisbees, illicit substances, scooters, skating equipment, lasers, pushchairs, inflatables or foldable chairs, suitcases, laptops, counterfeit goods, picnic baskets and coolers, air horns, and all animals except assistance dogs.
What about access for disabled people?
You should contact MCD productions via email at access@mcd.ie for details regarding parking for disabled people, wheelchair access to the venue, and suitable seating.
Am I allowed to take photos at the gig?
Certainly. However, you are only permitted to use a smartphone or a small digital camera. Professional cameras with removable lenses and any other recording devices are not allowed.
What’s the forecast for the weather?”/
As of now, the forecast doesn’t anticipate any rainfall across the weekend. Conditions on Friday are expected to be overcast, with temperatures ranging from 11 to 19 degrees. A mixture of sunshine and clouds on Saturday and Sunday will bring similar temperatures, fluctuating between 13 to 19 degrees and 13 to 17 degrees respectively.
Regardless of the weather’s capricious nature, the event will proceed under any circumstances. Be it rain, hail or sun, it’s advisable to keep a close watch on the unpredictable Irish weather forecasts and dress appropriately. Consider layering up and wearing wellingtons, boots or running shoes. Don’t forget to pack a waterproof jacket or poncho and some sunscreen. It’s worth noting, however, that umbrellas are not permitted. Fingers crossed that we’re not faced with an unforgiving summer.
2023 has indeed turned out to be the year dominated by Taylor Swift.