I Went To The Cardiff Eras Tour & I Remember It All Too Well 🧣🥰

After months of anticipation, friendship bracelet making, and Eras Tour Movie re-runs, I finally saw the amazing Taylor Swift at Principality Stadium on the 18th of June 2024 in Cardiff. I was in awe as she waltzed onto the stage and for a good thirty minutes I could’ve sworn that I had disassociated. It was a mind-blowing experience to see one of my biggest idols right in front of me. It was so mind-blowing, in fact, that I truly believe that my brain was unable to compute that she was really there. It was only when she greeted the crowd in Welsh that it began to truly sink in. She wasn’t on a grainy livestream or a TV screen. She was right there, in front of me! There was only one location on her tour where she could shout “Shwmae,” to the delight of 67,000 people. That was there, in front of me. That was in Cardiff, of course!

Taylor and her dancers blew me away with their choreography, energy and dedication. I especially enjoyed the Welsh references throughout as it made the night even more special knowing that she truly acknowledged her Welsh fans. For me, this was extremely important given the fact that Wales is barely recognised by international artists whilst on tour. It seems to fly under the radar while places such as London and Birmingham get all the recognition. This is quite disappointing, especially as Wales has such a vibrant and welcoming culture with so much to offer these artists. I think Taylor saw that herself as the fans gave it their all that night. From the Champagne Problems cheer that seemed to last forever to the thousands of friendship bracelets glistening in the stadium lights, it was easy to see that her arrival was long awaited and cherished. The vast majority of us cried happy tears, lost our voices and stood with bated breath after each era had been performed. It was obvious to me that this night had been unforgettable for so many, including myself.

The surprise songs were what made it though. The guitar mashup of I Forgot That You Existed and This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things was a great start. Admittedly, I thought that she’d chosen I Forgot That You Existed as a humorous nod to the fact that Cardiff had been off her radar for so many years. I cannot confirm or deny that that was her intention but it is funny nonetheless. Either way, I enjoyed the mashup as Reputation and Lover are my top two albums. I actually wore a Reputation-inspired outfit that night and even considered wearing a Lover one at some point. Not only that, but I have only one Taylor-inspired caption on my Instagram posts (shocker! I know). Can you guess which song it’s from? Well, if you said I Forgot That You Existed you would be correct. What are the odds?

Now, for the piano songs, I don’t think it could’ve gotten any better. We had a mashup of two of my all time favourite songs: I Hate It Here and The Lakes. I Hate It Here resonates with me so strongly as a small town girl who moved to Cardiff to escape the place that made her feel worthless. It reminds me of my teenage self who got lost in daydreams of moving to a bigger city, starting over, and achieving the dreams that felt so far out of reach. It reminds me why Cardiff became my home and why I strive to make a mark on the world. After all, “in my fantasies I rise above it.”

The Lakes was perfectly paired with I Hate it Here. It has that same whimsical dream-like energy and the same notion of not belonging somewhere. It’s definitely one for the writers, poets and journalists who like to get lost amongst words or poetic daydreams of some kind. You can just imagine Taylor strolling along a field barefoot with a long flowy dress and a daisy chain in her hair. That imagery most definitely encompasses Folklore but it also encompasses the young female writers who are confined by society and only set free by their words. It was a perfect song to accompany I Hate It Here!

I couldn’t have asked for better songs or a better night. As I walked out of the stadium with flushed cheeks and cowboy boots in hand, I knew I would be repeating that sentiment for a very long time. It was worth every penny, queue, and merch wait. I want to thank my friend Lucy for surviving the Ticketmaster War because I’ll always remember this moment in the back of my mind!

Photo taken by my friend Lucy.