Taylor Swift Eras tour Melbourne concert: relive the pop star’s biggest ever show – as it happened (2024)

We just got the nicest note from a reader, Viona Fung.

“Thank you for your live blog of Taylor Swifts’ first Eras concert in Melbourne tonight.

Not having tickets to the concert we are creating our own Swift moments by following the set list in your blog and playing the songs at home. We are feeling the love.

Attached is a watercolour homage to the music icon of our century and the stunning Roberto Cavilli costume, painted by my ten-year-old daughter tonight.

We feel lucky to be a part of the Swiftie Era, even just from afar.”

Actually tearing up a little over here. Please keep emailing us, it’s bringing all the feels: melb.eras@guardian.co.uk

It’s time … for the era that we weren’t anticipating but were hugely grateful for in the middle of a never-ending lockdown: folklore.

(This album was a massive pivot from her successes in pop and moved into a more indie, folk/rock genre. It was the first time Swift collaborated with Aaron Dessner of The National; first time Bon Iver’s hauntingly beautiful vocals made a guest appearance – a match made in heaven; and it was the first time her longtime partner (at the time) Joe Alwyn helped co-write some of the songs. )

Now it’s time to sit back and be taken on a journey through Taylor’s folklores.

Throwback to Taylor injecting some Aussie slang into We Are Never Getting Back Together.

This era’s aesthetic is basically plucked from her 22 music video from 2013.

Tay wears the famous T-Shirt (which lyrics change across different shows), donned with a Gladys Tamex hat that she gives away to a fan.

When it’s time for All Too Well (10 Minute Version), Taylor changes into a sparkly (yet again) long red coat, with ends dipped in black, and paired with a red guitar. All she needs is her pick and guitar: a moment of silence for this song.

I’m exhausted just writing all these different set changes and eras, imagine what it would be like to perform them.

Taylor Swift is superwoman.

I just turned to a row of distinctly older blokes standing nearby watching, and asked who they are. “We’re the riggers!”

I asked, gesturing at the stage: “Is this very impressive?” One said: “It’s f-ing amazing, mate.”

Taylor has just given the hat to a little girl, and is now singing We Are Never Getting Back Together.

The girl looks so happy!

There is a really special moment in this era where Taylor gives away her black hat to an audience member in the crowd during the song 22.

If you’re the lucky one in Melbourne, congratulations!!

Loving him was red

Everyone’s wristbands have turned RED!

Act six is the 2012 record where Swift started pivoting to pop, left her scarf at Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister’s house and wore that infamous “not a lot going on at the moment” T Shirt in her 22 music video.

For this era, Tay Tay performs banger after banger, starting off with 22, followed by We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble, and All Too Well (10 Minute Version).

Absolutely screaming, crying, and throwing up that we get the magnus opus the 10 Minute Version – I was not expecting her to be so generous! But, alas, the fans did make this song huge, so we must be rewarded.

Claire almost started crying watching someone’s awful live stream of Long Live, which just finished.

Red is up next!

‘Some of the happiest people I’ve ever seen’

Here’s what all of this looks like from right at the back, courtesy of our colleague Meadow Nguyen.

Our sports deputy editor Jo Khan is on level four and “the energy is incredible. I’m surrounded by sequins and cowboy hats and some of the happiest people I’ve ever seen.”

Taylor totally transforms again for this short but memorable Speak Now moment, enchanting us all with a soft glowing gown, made by Nicole + Felicia Couture.

But if you think that’s beautiful, Taylor has also worn this stunning purple gown (shaped like a pastry) for this set:

And even this slightly different (to the first dress) Zuhair Murad Couture custom gown.

At least her outfits are giving variety for this two-song set. Excited to see what she wears for the Melbourne and Sydney concerts.