Sequin dresses shimmer across the stadium as 85,000 fans scream at the top of their lungs, eagerly waiting for Taylor Swift to take center stage. Friendship bracelets exchange hands from one “13”-marked wrist to another. At every entrance security guards stand ready wearing slow smiles, excited to witness and protect one of the biggest artists in history. This is the “Eras Tour.”
On Friday, Oct. 18, Taylor Swift kicked off the fourth and final leg of the “Eras Tour,” officially recognized as “the highest-grossing tour in history,” according to Rolling Stone.
Swift initially announced the tour in November 2022, following the release of her 11th studio album, “Midnights.” The first leg launched in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023. After dazzling audiences across the country, Swift took the show global, starting in Mexico City in fall 2023 and wrapping up in London by August 2024.
In August 2023, following an overwhelmingly successful U.S. run, Swift announced her return to North America to conclude the tour with shows in Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto and Vancouver. And, as expected, Miami was nothing short of a dream.
The atmosphere was electric with smiles everywhere. Regardless of whether you grew up with her music, are a new fan, or had no connection to her at all, one thing was certain: the show was unforgettable.
Pre-Concert Buzz
The pre-show scene was chaotic in the best way. While parking was a challenge and entering the venue required scanning your ticket three separate times, the positive energy was evident. Even the venue workers were delightful. Many greeted us with glowing smiles as they handed out light-up bracelets to all attendees so that Swift could see every one of her fans. I even traded friendship bracelets with a worker, who grinned ear-to-ear.
Abbey Wicks, a fourth-year journalism major at PLNU attended night three of the Miami shows.
“It feels like such a fun, safe environment. We’re all here to support the same person and have fun,” she said.
As I waited for my friend in the merchandise line, which stretched over two stories and took more than an hour, I explored the food options at Hard Rock Stadium. From Italian and sushi to bistro and ice cream, there was something for everyone… at an absurd price, of course.
The Concert Begins
At 7 p.m. the concert opener, Gracie Abrams took the stage. As a fan of her music, I enjoyed her set, where she performed nine songs from her latest album, “The Secret of Us,” which dropped in June. Abrams had the crowd on their feet, dancing and singing along.
“I am so happy to be here with you guys,” Abrams said. “I’m a big Swiftie, too, and I won’t shut up about it either.”
At 7:35 the crowd began buzzing with anticipation. 25 minutes later, the lights dimmed and the magic began.
The Eras Unfold
“It’s been a long time coming,” Swift sang as she opened with “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” from her “Lover” album (2019). She performed five songs from “Lover” and paid a tribute to the Miami crowd before transitioning into her 2008 “Fearless” era. The stadium sang along to classics like “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.”
Next came the “Red” era, where Swift performed four songs, including a tearful 10-minute rendition of “All Too Well.” During “22,” she continued her tradition of giving away a hat to a lucky fan.
Swift then transformed the stage into the enchanted world of “Speak Now” (2010), walking down in a stunning gown and serenading the audience with “Enchanted.”
The crowd erupted again as the “Reputation” era (2017) began. Bright lights flashed and a snake hissed as Swift performed four tracks with a never seen before outfit, hinting at the potential re-release of “Reputation (Taylor’s Version).”
Swift blended the “Folklore” and “Evermore” eras — her “sister albums” from 2020 — into an extended eight-song set. She followed this with five songs from her “1989” era.
The show continued with a special surprise: Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine who joined Swift on stage to perform “Florida” from “The Tortured Poets Department” of Swift’s discography. Fans went wild for this unexpected collaboration.
As the night drew on, Swift treated the audience to her signature “Surprise Songs” that are unique to each show. In Miami, she performed mashups of “Tim McGraw” (from her “Debut” album) and “Timeless” (a vault track from “Fearless”), followed by “This Is Me Trying” and “Daylight” (from “Folklore” and “Lover”).
Wicks was thrilled to hear her favorite Taylor Swift song, “Mirrorball,” during this segment. “It was so amazing, I lost it,” she said.
To finish, Swift performed seven songs from her 2022 release “Midnights,” closing the night with “Karma,” accompanied by a beautiful display of fireworks.
A Night to Remember
With a run time of 3.5 hours and a total of 46 songs, Swift took the audience on a journey through her entire discography, celebrating 10 different eras of her career. The night was a glittering showcase of music, passion and connection—exactly as Swift herself predicted: “There’s glitter on the floor after the party” (from Swift’s song “New Year’s Day”).
Nick Hancock 
Steve Anderson