Ecstasy in Edinburgh by dedicated Swiftie Tylar Valentine
Super swiftie Tylar Valentine gives her account of what it was like to be in the audience for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour gig in Edinburgh.
“I built a legacy that you can’t undo.”
Those words from Taylor Swift’s most recent album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, seem to ring truer than ever in light of The Eras Tour. The show swept across the UK this summer, bringing over a billion pounds to the economy and creating unforgettable memories for nearly 1.2 million fans. But what makes this show so special? As a lifelong Swiftie, I attended The Eras Tour at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in June, and I’m here to share why this was truly a night to remember.
The Anticipation
Planning for The Eras Tour started way back in 2022, with the release of Taylor’s hit album ‘Midnights’. Fans who pre-ordered the album were offered an exclusive code for early access to an upcoming, yet-to-be-announced tour. Anticipation within the online Swiftie community soared. After the cancellation of Lover Fest in 2020 due to COVID-19, Swift had released three additional albums - 'Folklore’, ‘Evermore’, and now ‘Midnights’. Nobody knew what was to come, but everyone was excited.
I started saving for the show the day we received those pre-sale codes. After missing The Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018 due to chronic illness, I knew this was a chance I couldn’t miss. Little did anyone know the record-smashing journey we were about to embark on. Swift was about to make history with the biggest musical tour of all time.
Securing the Dream
The Eras Tour was announced in November 2022.
“A journey through the musical Eras of my career (past and present!),” Swift wrote in an Instagram post that sent shockwaves through the online Swiftie community. This was everything I could have hoped for and more – a chance to relive the moments that made us fall in love with Taylor and her music, and a celebration of a 17-year career that has touched so many lives.
The months leading up to the ticket sale were filled with excitement. We made elaborate friendship bracelets and theorised online about what the tour might entail. With 10 albums and 229 songs, nobody could predict what would make the setlist. The anticipation highlighted just how strong the Swiftie community is, with fans banding together online to share the excitement.
The day tickets went on sale arrived in the blink of an eye. I lay in my bedroom the night before, staring at the walls adorned with Swift posters, unable to sleep. This was my chance. The next morning, I sat with my iPad in one hand, phone in the other, and laptop on a pillow, each device loaded with Ticketmaster and my pre-sale codes. It felt like heading into battle. Through sweat and tears, I did it! I secured a ticket for Edinburgh’s night two. The disbelief was overwhelming; I actually had the opportunity to see my lifelong hero live and in the flesh.
Preparing for the Big Day
The next year was a whirlwind. I spent money on beads for friendship bracelets, train tickets, hotel stays and a custom outfit replicating one Swift wore on stage. For myself and so many other fans, The Eras Tour was more than just a concert. It was a celebration of the community and family we found through Taylor. Swift’s music has always made space in the world for those of us who felt too much. The Eras Tour was a place where we could feel seen – loud, proud, and unapologetic in our passion.
On June 7, 2024, it was finally time to travel to Edinburgh. This was the moment I had dreamed of for over a decade, planned for over two years and imagined since I was a little girl singing along to ‘1989’ in 2014. At a Travelodge in Falkirk, I carefully laid out my outfit: the custom dress, over 100 bracelets hanging from a glittery carabiner on a VIP lanyard and a packed concert essentials bag. I went to bed early, knowing I’d have to be awake at 2:30 a.m. to be ready for the 4 a.m. taxi to Murrayfield.
The Concert Experience
The alarm sounded before dawn, and I got ready with glitter on my cheeks to a soundtrack of my favourite Taylor songs. By 4:40 a.m., I arrived outside the stadium, joining a group of about 20 dedicated Swifties who had also made the early trek to secure a spot at the barricade. After chatting with the woman camped out at the front of the line, I received a ‘2’ on the back of my hand, marking me as the second to arrive in my section—Front Right Standing, on the diamond. With over 10 hours to go until we’d be allowed into the venue, and 14 until Taylor took the stage, the waiting game began.
Sitting on the grass in front of Murrayfield, the crowds grew as the morning went on. By 8 a.m., there were over 100 people waiting in line for my section. Despite the cold Scottish weather, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. We passed the time trading bracelets, serenading the committed security staff with Taylor covers, being interviewed by news outlets, playing card games, and theorising about what our show might entail—from her outfit choices to surprise songs. There was a sense of camaraderie; we were all here for one reason, and despite the odds, we had all made it. We helped each other with last-minute makeup, acted as photographers for one another’s Instagram shots, and soaked in the pre-show excitement with the stadium towering behind us.
At 3:30 p.m., the staff made the announcement we had all been waiting for: it was time to go in. In a calm, single-file line, they led the VIPs to the turnstiles where we scanned our tickets. Walking onto the pitch, we grabbed our spots at the barricade on the diamond, through tears and laughter. Seeing The Eras Tour stage in person for the first time, after years of anticipation, was indescribable—a triumphant moment for every person there. The early start, freezing weather, and hours of waiting had all been worth it. We snapped pictures with our new friends, called loved ones, and relished every second of what was already a dream come true.
The Show of a Lifetime
A few hours later, Paramore graced the stage. Hayley Williams is an unforgettable performer who brings life and energy to every song. In a custom red jumpsuit and bleach-blonde hair, she belted out her signature powerhouse vocals to 73,000 people, making the floor feel alive. Seeing two legends perform on the same stage in one night was an undeniably charged experience.
As Paramore exited the stage, the crowd held its breath in anticipation. It wasn’t long now until the moment we were all gathered for: Taylor taking to the stage. Lesley Gore’s 'You Don’t Own Me' blasted over the speakers—a symbolic nod to everything Swift had been through to reach this point in her career. The stands and floor roared with celebration. The iconic clock appeared on the screen, counting down to her grand entrance. Dancers equipped with giant, multicoloured fans cascaded across the stage, setting a scene that felt like something out of a movie.
As the intro played out, the emotions were unmatched— joy, tears, laughter, screams. It was as if so many dreams were coming true at once. When Taylor popped out from beneath the fans wearing one of her signature bedazzled bodysuits, it was an almost out-of-body experience. This was the moment I had waited for—every CD I begged my family to buy, every past tour I missed, every poster hung and playlist made, every post online about my lifelong love for Swift and her music - it all culminated in this one perfect moment. It was everything I had hoped for and more.
No amount of hours spent listening to her songs could have prepared me for Swift’s stellar live vocals. After 17 years in the industry, she has mastered the art of showmanship. Strutting the stage in red-bottomed Louboutins, she incited screams from the crowd with just a single knowing look. With a band and dancers in tow—many of whom have been with her from the beginning—Taylor immersed us in her perfectly crafted storytelling, bringing new meaning to musical performance. The Eras Tour isn’t just a show; it’s a lived experience.
A Personal Touch
Swift’s personal, diaristic approach to songwriting has long been her signature, making so many of us feel seen and understood through her lyrics. Standing in that crowd, surrounded by peers who related so deeply and profoundly to her music, was therapeutic and healing. Screaming every word to a three-hour set list alongside friends and strangers alike made us feel like one gigantic family.
When Swift made eye contact with me, smiling in her signature red lip as she sang directly to me during the ‘Folklore’ portion of the show, every childhood dream was came true at once. Receiving a guitar pick used on stage from one of the security team was just the cherry on top. That pick now sits safely with the rest of my Taylor collection in my living room—a tangible reminder of a night I’ll never forget.
The Legacy
The Eras Tour will go down in the history books—not just for its record-breaking success, but for the memories it created at each of the 131 shows Swift has performed so far. Attending felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not just for me, but for so many other fans. I am incredibly grateful to Taylor and her team for continually creating these magical experiences and for the sense of love and found family that being a Swiftie has brought me. As Taylor herself wrote, “I built a legacy that you can’t undo.” The Eras Tour is a testament to that legacy - a celebration of music, memories, and the profound impact that one artist can have on millions of lives. For every Swiftie who attended, it was more than just a concert; it was a culmination of years of love, growth, and connection. And for those of us who have followed Taylor’s journey from the very beginning, it was a dream realised - a night we will carry with us forever.
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert in Edinburgh reviewed by Tylar Valentine
