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

A drumroll please … we have entered the ninth era, where we pause from Swift’s album eras and enter a safe space for fans to be gifted with two surprise songs.

“Melbourne welcome to the acoustic session. I’ll tell you a little secret – this is my favourite section,” she says. “I get to have this moment every single day, picking songs for that particular crowd, and hope it makes you happy.”

First secret song is Red! Crowd goes wild. We are in the office bopping along to the awful live stream we found on Twitch (thank you for your service).

A lovely reader Ali has just emailed us: “I’m sick stuck at home and my partner Nash is out with her friends enjoying herself, and this way I get to follow along and experience what she is, while she just totally loses herself in this incredible experience she waited SO long for and utterly deserves.

“I can remember how we had 20 tabs open trying to get her tickets, and how happy she was when we got them, like it was yesterday! Thank you SO much for this live coverage and hope you’re having the time of your life.”

You’re so welcome. Even though this blog is being run from a poorly-lit office at 10pm at night, and we’re suffering from extreme fomo and the after-effects of deeply average pizza, we do kind of feel like we’re there with everyone else? And it’s because of emails like this! Please keep ‘em coming: melb.eras@guardian.co.uk

Also Meadow just sent another great shot to the group chat, from up in the nosebleeds. I don’t know what kind of wizard phone she has.

More from the 1989 era …

This was the era of Swift’s high-profile “girl squad”, and her very brief but public relo with Harry Styles, which was captured in her single Style.

This album also really solidified Swift as a pop artist and won her album of the year for a second time.

Her music videos from this era should be enough to make fans want to see this performer live.

Here’s a snippet of what our Melburnians would be dancing along to right now!

Our official critic Giselle Nguyen says of the moment: “Forever annoyed at my parents for not holding off on creating me for another month and a bit so I could also be born in 1989.”

For this era, Taylor needs those tassels again to do her iconic Shake It Off moves, so what better than to wear another Robert Cavalli outfit … but this time in a two-piece set.

This outfit has many variations of colours: magenta, bright green, dark blue. Will Melbourne be treated to entirely new colour?

Yes! We can confirm she’s in orange tonight.

Our official critic Giselle Nguyen has just sent an important update to the group text:

The guy she dances with in this song is so hot. Put in blog.

(Here’s the look in pink from earlier concerts.)

My name is Taylor and I was born in 1989.

We are nearing the end now (OH NO), and only just getting into some of the biggest hits to date from Swift’s catalogue.

Please welcome the 1989 era, showcasing Swift’s first full pop album that landed into our Apple iTunes in 2014.

For era eight, we are treated to five blockbuster singles: Style, Blank Space, Shake It Off, Wildest Dreams and Bad Blood. HUGE.

Surprise songs are getting closer

The moment fans have been waiting for … the two surprise songs are coming up very soon, so watch this space!!

First we have another era (coming any minute) and then two songs not on the setlist.

In case you’re new here, Swift performs two surprise songs from any of her albums, one on guitar followed by one on piano.

The last two surprise songs on night four in Tokyo were Come In With The Rain from Fearless, and the Midnights’ song You’re On Your Own, Kid.

Taylor has played You’re On Your Own, Kid four times during her surprise songs section of the concert.

Swifties have been calling for the song to be added permanently to the setlist because of the impact it has had on the concert experience/friendship bracelets.

I haven’t watched the Eras movie yet (saving it for my post-concert blues) but I’ve read that the song is featured in the film … so at least I’ll have that to cry/sing along to.

Tokyo’s surprise songs were:

• Night one (02/07/24) - Dear Reader & Holy Ground

• Night two (02/08/24) - Eyes Open & Electric Touch

• Night three (02/09/24) - Superman & The Outside

• Night four (02/10/24) - Come In With The Rain & You’re On Your Own, Kid

Did not expect this but Taylor Swift’s people just sent some VERY special official pics taken earlier this evening. Direct into our inbox, just for you.

Please keep sending us photos, Taylor Swift’s people!

On stage she just finished Last Great American Dynasty, which involved a LOT of Taylor screaming, and is now singing August.

The outfits for folklore

Think of the cottagecore aesthetic that blew up on TikTok a few years ago and you have entered the folklore era.

Taylor usually wears this gorgeous look with ruffles and flares by Alberta Ferretti for this era:

The dress comes in purple, white or green during some of the more emotional parts of the show. My personal favourite is the green number, which she is wearing in Melbourne tonight!

I am so excited to see fellow August girlies dance around with Swift at the MCG tonight.

Taking a pause to note that Taylor Swift has just donated $100,000 to the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 44-year-old fan of Kansas City Chiefs who was killed this week during a shooting at their victory parade following the Superbowl.

The GoFundMe was set up on Thursday with a goal of raising $75,000 for her husband and two children. On the site, an hour ago, an account under the name “Taylor Swift” made one $50,000 donation and then, eight minutes later, a second donation of the same amount: “Sending my deepest sympathies and condolences in the wake of your devastating loss. With love, Taylor Swift,” the donation note read.

The donations were confirmed to Variety by Swift’s representative.

folkore continued

In this era, Swift gives us seven songs, which is really nice.

Depending on how she’s feeling the first song of this era is the 1 or invisible string. Tonight Melburnians got the 1 – the sadder of the two songs.

For context: invisible string is known to be written about Joe (her ex), and how the couple were always destined to be together because, as she sings, “one single thread of gold tied me to you”. When the Eras tour started, this relationship came to an end, and perhaps because it was too heartbreaking to perform, the 1 has been subbed in: which is about a relo that could’ve been the 1.

The opener is followed by betty, the last great american dynasty, august (my fav eep), into the bridge of illicit affairs, my tears ricochet, and the single cardigan.

All these songs according to Taylor are works of fiction, with different characters and folktales. For example, the triptych of Betty, Cardigan and August all follow a storyline of characters who are intertwined by romance. They are intimate songs without being direct from Swift’s diary.

Here she is singing at a past concert for those watching at home xx