Summary

  • Taylor Swift performs for tens of thousands of fans in Edinburgh in the first show in the UK leg of the Eras Tour

  • The Cruel Summer singer staged the first of three shows at Murrayfield Stadium

  • Nearly 73,000 fans will watch Swift perform on each of her three nights in Edinburgh

  • It's the first time she has toured in Scotland since 2015, with the Eras tour tipped to become the highest grossing run of concerts ever

  • In an epic performance, the world's biggest music star was on stage for more than three hours

  1. Who are Paramore?published at 18:15 British Summer Time 7 June

    By Frankie Allan, BBC Scotland News

    Formed in 2004, Paramore are often associated with the "emo" music scene, particularly due to their early work in the mid-2000s.

    While they didn't define the genre, they played a significant role in popularising it. Their 2007 album Riot! helped bring emo out into the mainstream, with anthems like Misery Business showcasing their ability to craft emotionally-charged yet accessible music.

    Over the years, Paramore has evolved their sound, incorporating elements of pop and new wave, which was shown in their 2017 album After Laughter.

    Paramore's evolution, which has incorporated new wave, synth-pop, and alternative rock, has demonstrated the band’s versatility and kept their music relevant.

    In their performances as part of The Eras Tour, Paramore will come charged with nostalgia alongside some fresh sounds with their newer tracks, attracting a mass of millennials and Gen Z audiences.

  2. Paramore get the gig startedpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 7 June

    Front singer Hayley WilliamsImage source, Shuttershock

    American rock band Paramore have got the show started at Murrayfield.

    Multiple acts have warmed up the Eras Tour crowd throughout its run, most notably Sabrina Carpenter, the artist behind the 2024 summer-hit Espresso.

    Paramore - fronted by Hayley Williams - are supporting Taylor Swift on the UK and Europe section of the tour.

    In London, Paramore and Swift be joined by smaller artists METTE on 21 June, Griff on 22 June and Benson Boone on 23 June.

  3. Here's a bespoke Taylor Swift weather forecastpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 7 June

    Media caption,

    Weather forecast for Taylor Swift's Edinburgh gigs

    Murrayfield Stadium doesn't have a roof, so fans are at the mercy of the Scottish weather.

    We asked the BBC Scotland weather team what the forecast looks like for Taylor Swift’s Scottish weekend.

    So here's what Swifties can expect. And be warned - they're predicting cool, sometimes wet, weather

  4. 'I've matured with Taylor'published at 17:55 British Summer Time 7 June

    Jared Evitts
    BBC Newsbeat reporter in Edinburgh

    Paul and Lucy

    Married couple Lucy and Paul Lapham live in Northern Ireland but, like so many, have travelled to Scotland just to see Taylor Swift.

    Lucy saw Taylor during her 2011 UK tour, and tells Newsbeat she still has the same excitement today.

    "It’s a totally different age seeing her, I feel like I’ve matured with her.

    "I think I'll probably cry, but it’ll be the best," she says.

    Unlike long-time fan Lucy, Paul says he’s had “a conversion to being a Swiftie”.

    "I know most of the lyrics, so I won’t feel out of place. And how often do you get to see one of the world’s real mega stars live?"

  5. A vote for Taylorpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 7 June

    Close up of a Shirley-Anne Somerville's hands, showing a row of bracelets on her wrist

    Those out on the political campaign trail for the general election have found it impossible to resist getting on board the Swiftie train.

    The SNP's campaigning message this morning called on voters to Shake It Off by voting SNP to “boot out the Tories and put Scotland’s interests first".

    Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish Social Justice Secretary, showed off her friendship bracelets, adding: “Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir ‘Blank Space’ Starmer offer Sweet Nothing to Scotland.”

    The BBC approached other politicians in Scotland to canvass their Swift-inspired thoughts.

    Scottish Tory Meghan Gallagher came up with a Swift-themed medley, saying she knew John Swinney was trouble when he walked in, noting that they have Bad Blood and urging voters to write their name in a Blank Space come 4 July.

    Dame Jackie Baillie walking in the atrium of the Scottish parliament, smiling and wearing a bright blue jacket and black dress and carrying a handbag and folderImage source, Getty Images

    Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said her favourite song was Cruel Summer, because “if we don’t get rid of the Tories it will indeed be a cruel summer".

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he was a fan of Swift’s “feel good, life-affirming pop” – and pointed out he recently quoted her song Anti-Hero in Holyrood, telling the then First Minister Humza Yousaf that he should accept that “I’m the problem, it’s me.”

  6. I don't know about you, but Swifties are feeling 22published at 17:38 British Summer Time 7 June

    Megan Bonar
    Reporting from Murrayfield

    Two women holding a Saltire flag with text handwritten on in pink glitter which reads 'Taylor Swift the Eras tour 2024' - behind the girls are concert goers and a stand selling feather boas and cowboy hats

    Sisters Dionne, 16, and Morgan, 19, from Glasgow are hoping to stand out with their bejeweled Saltire.

    “I wanted to do something to different,” says Dionne.

    The sisters, along with their mum and dad, are attending two nights of the tour, and are hoping to be picked from the crowd to be given the 22 hat - a part of the show when one audience member invited out to receive a hat from Taylor herself.

  7. Not a Chiefs fan... but definitely a Swiftypublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 7 June

    James Delaney
    Reporting from Murrayfield

    Phil, 34, from Middlesbrough is sporting a Kansas City Chiefs shirt in tribute to Travis Kelce

    Phil, from Middlesbrough, is sporting a Kansas City Chiefs shirt in tribute to Travis Kelce.

    The Super Bowl-winning tight-end has been in a relationship with Swift since last year.

    But while Phil, 34, admits he has divided loyalties when it comes to American football, he is a dedicated Swifty.

    “I’m actually a New England Patriots fan,” he says.

    “But with Travis going out with Taylor, I had to get a jersey.

    “I’ve been buzzing for tonight since the tickets went on sale. I’m looking forward to Evermore, Folklore and Reputation. I can’t wait.”

  8. The guy on the Chiefs...published at 17:23 British Summer Time 7 June

    Travis Kelce celebrates winning the Super Bowl with girlfriend Taylor SwiftImage source, Reuters

    It feels like everything about Taylor Swift is a monster success story - including the man in her life.

    Travis Michael Kelce, 34, plays American football for the Kansas City Chiefs.

    He has won three Super Bowls with the team, including a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024.

    Kelce and Swift have been dating since late 2023.

    Their relationship has had large media coverage and also led to a surge in viewing figures of NFL games and an increase in merchandise sales – this has been attributed by some to the “Taylor Swift effect”, referencing Swift’s popularity and cultural impact.

    It brought new audiences to the game, with some fans saying it "brought dads and daughters together.”

    Kelce has attended multiple Eras Tour shows, prompting Swift to change the lyrics to some songs and point to her‘ lover’ in the audience, with a lyric in Karma changed to: “Karma’s like the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me.”

    Read more here:

  9. Tips for staying safe at the concertpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 7 June

    Media caption,

    Going to see Taylor this weekend? Here's some safety tips for the journey

    As fans flock towards Murrayfield for the Eras tour, The Social have prepared a video on how to get to the stadium and back safely.

    Supt Lorna McEwan from British Transport Police urges fans to check their route and mode of transport and plan ahead.

    For those already at the concert, Supt McEwan gave some tips in case you get separated from your group.

    She said: "If you get split up at the venue, think of somewhere you can meet. Look at each other's ticket numbers and maybe put them on your phone so you know where you'll all sitting.

    "If it's outside the venue, pick locations you all know that you can get to."

  10. The Swift fan who gave away her tickets... twice!published at 17:04 British Summer Time 7 June

    Angela Carr, BBC Scotland News

    Jess RetsonImage source, Jess Retson
    Image caption,

    Jess Retson has taken her Taylor Swift dissertation to the Murrayfield gig

    If you managed to get your hands on a coveted Taylor Swift ticket, would you give it away? That's what Jess Retson did - twice.

    She secured standing tickets for Sunday night at Murrayfield, but gave them to two 16-year-old Swifties. Then a few weeks ago she did it again. Jess says "a girl in my work said she really wanted to go and I was like 'look, I've got a seated ticket' and she burst into tears. So that's my good deed of the year!"

    Even her mum asked Jess if she was sure she wanted to part with the tickets but "in the spirit of Taylor Swift I'll do it."

    Jess, who's from Glasgow, will still get to see Taylor tonight, and she's taking along her university dissertation for the occasion after her love of the star’s music inspired the document which earned her a first class degree.

  11. How big is the Eras tour?published at 16:58 British Summer Time 7 June

    Taylor SwiftImage source, Getty Images

    The clock is ticking towards tonight's Edinburgh show - and it will have plenty to live up to.

    Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the US superstar's largest concert tour, with 152 shows across five continents.

    The show is a celebration of different eras from Swift’s career, marked by each of her albums – like Fearless, 1989 and Midnights.

    The show is three hours long and has become the largest grossing concert tour of all time, making over $1bn (£786m).

    Swift is kicking off her UK leg of the tour in Edinburgh, with three shows across 7, 8 and 9 June

  12. American fans thrilled to be in Edinburghpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 7 June

    James Delaney
    Reporting from Edinburgh

    A man wearing a white shirt that reads 'Please ask my daughter about her friendship bracelets' and a woman wearing a white turtleneck which reads 'But daddy I love him' standing on a crowded Edinburgh street outside a shop

    American fans Jonathan and Kyleigh Kitchens are among those soaking up the atmosphere in the city centre before heading to the gig.

    The pair travelled from Alabama and have incorporated a stop in Edinburgh on a family tour of Europe.

    Jonathan, 43, said: “We always wanted to travel to Edinburgh anyway, so when we saw the date for her concert, we just worked our trip around it.

    “The whole trip had been very Taylor Swift themed. We’ve eaten in a couple of restaurants that have had Taylor Swift drinks or meals.

    “Kyleigh and her mum did the tram this morning to go and get the merch.”

    Kyleigh, 18, added: “We went to see her in Arlington, Texas, last year at the start of the tour.”

  13. Is that Taylor over the Tay?published at 16:41 British Summer Time 7 June

    Graeme Ogston
    BBC Scotland News at Dundee Airport

    A man wearing glasses and another behind him wearing a hat looks into the camera, an airfield with planes is behind them in the distance

    Armed with a spurious tip of a potential landing at Dundee Airport, I fired up a flight tracker app and set off with cameraman Colin to the Riverside.

    A jet had flown in earlier this morning from San Francisco, but wasn’t the star’s own private plane.

    The skies were suspiciously quiet over the Tay (Tay!!!!!!), leading us to realise fairly quickly that our showbiz encounter with Harry Styles in St Andrews last year would not be repeated with his megastar ex.

    A complete lack of private security or police vehicles was the final clue that the billionaire songstress might have made other plans for her trip to Edinburgh.

  14. WATCH: Doors open at Murrayfieldpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 7 June

    Media caption,

    Doors open at Murrayfield for Taylor Swift fans

    Fans have been waiting outside all day, so some cheers were to be expected when the doors finally opened.

    Support act Paramore will kick things off at about 18:00 before the star of the show bursts on stage at 19:00.

  15. Inverness, Dundee or Edinburgh... where is Taylor now?published at 16:31 British Summer Time 7 June

    Taylor Swift fans are well aware the singer loves to use "Easter eggs" - hidden messages for her fans. This has led to eagle-eyed followers speculating on where se might be right now.

    So what are the rumours surrounding Taylor's arrival in Scotland?

    • Monitoring flight tracking apps, some social media users speculated Swift landed at Inverness airport on Thursday.
    • A similar rumour circulated online that a private plane was expected at Dundee airport.
    • Some social media users speculated Swift would be staying in the Cotswolds, using a private helicopter to fly to Edinburgh from a cottage she has rented.

    All we can be sure of is Taylor will take to the stage at Murrayfield this evening at 19.00 and we will bring you updates as we get them between now and then.

  16. 'Taylor is a total inspiration'published at 16:23 British Summer Time 7 June

    Megan Bonar
    Reporting from Murrayfield

    .Swifties

    “We’re a family of Swifties,” say sisters Hannah and Gemma who are here with their cousins Amanda and Chloe from Hamilton. It’s taken them about five hours to get ready, as well as a year of planning. “The outfits are just like us, a bit extra,” says Gemma. Amanda says: “Taylor is a total inspiration as a businesswoman and as a person, it’s all about girlhood.”

  17. Superfan spends £2,000 on ticketspublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 7 June

    Girl leaning on a barrier with tattoos on her arms

    Superfan Nicola Singleton, from Irvine in North Ayrshire, has spent £2,000 buying tickets to all three nights at Murrayfield as well as one in London.

    The 23-year-old proudly sports two Taylor Swift tattoos - a bow and arrow design for the song The Archer and the second is a quote from 'Cruel Summer'.

    She says: "I hope my dad doesn't see this!"

  18. What can fans expect?published at 16:04 British Summer Time 7 June

    Numbers relating to Taylor Swift's Eras tour

  19. Why is the Eras tour such a big deal?published at 15:48 British Summer Time 7 June

    Two hands forming the shape of a heart in a dark concert venue with strobe lights shining and a large crowd facing the stageImage source, Getty Images

    The epic performance of the Eras tour has to be seen to be believed.

    Typically, Swift takes to the stage performing a range of 46 hit songs from her ten albums. The show is three and a half hours long with a conceptual theme, paying tribute to each 'era' of her career.

    The tour itself is the highest grossing of all time with 11 million tickets sold and £1.7bn estimated revenue since it began in March 2023.

    Edinburgh is the first UK date of the tour which culminates in a record-breaking eight-night run at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Demand for tickets is sky high with scalpers outside Murrayfield charging up to £3,000 per seat. Almost 73,000 fans will watch Swift perform each night in Edinburgh with an estimated 1.2 million people across the UK seeing the tour across 17 dates.

    The local economy of cities Swift plays in receive a "Taylor boost" of tens of millions of pounds when she comes to town and her Seattle show generated such a high level of seismic activity it equated to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale.

  20. Going to the Eras show at Murrayfield? This is how you access the stadiumpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 7 June

    It's nearly time for the turnstiles to fully open ahead of tonight's blockbuster show.

    To help show fans how to best access the stadium, Scottish Rugby - the occupants of Murrayfield Stadium - released this map.

    Scottish Rugby Murrayfield diagramImage source, Scottish Rugby

    Doors will open for everyone from 16:00, having opened at 15:00 for early ticket holders. The show starts at 18:00.

    This is an early start compared to most gigs, but Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performance goes non-stop for more than three hours.

    We’re told support act Paramore will kick things off at about 18:00 before the star of the show bursts on stage at 19:00. The show is expected to finish in plenty of time for the stadium’s 22:30 curfew.