Taylor Swift has debuted her Eras tour in the UK, featuring changes to her setlist, support acts and costumes.
Nearly 73,000 fans have gathered at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh as the superstar performs the first of three Scottish dates.
American rock band Paramore warmed the crowd up, before Taylor emerged to the crowd shortly after 7pm.
While thanking the thousands in attendance, the singer said her one regret about her previous tours was not coming to Scotland more.
“Look at what you’ve done. You made us feel so welcome. You’ve been so beautifully generous to us, even before we got here”, she announced.
The superstar congratulated a couple who got engaged on the first night of the UK leg of her record-breaking Eras tour, telling them it was “amazing”.
She praised the rapturous crowd at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, saying it was “the most highly attended stadium show in Scottish history”.
Crowds of so-called “Swifties” began arriving at the venue on Friday, some wearing the star’s official tour merchandise, while others are attending in fancy dress and various costumes.
Swift will receive a civic gift on behalf of the Scottish capital including a bespoke tartan guitar strap, a tartan cat bed and a blanket.
It is hoped that the artist will use the guitar strap during her performances and sign a second which would be auctioned for charity.
City of Edinburgh CouncilTaylor Swift is set to receive a civic gift on behalf of Edinburgh including a bespoke tartan guitar strap City of Edinburgh Council
The exclusive straps, of which only two exist are inscribed with the text “Fàilte chridheil gu Dùn Èideann” – A heartfelt welcome to Edinburgh.
First Minister John Swinney revealed his “bond with the Swifties” as he welcomed the singer to Scotland.
He was asked to name his top three Swift songs, prompting peals of laughter from his audience.
The First Minister replied that he had felt a “bond with the Swifties” – as Taylor Swift fans are known – since Loch Tay in his Perthshire North Holyrood constituency was temporarily renamed Loch Tay Tay in honour of the star’s arrival in Scotland this week.
To further laughter from the gathered audience of SNP activists and journalists, Mr Swinney said his favourite Swift song is her 2019 single You Need To Calm Down – which he erroneously referred to as You’ve Got To Calm Down.
Dozens of street vendors have set up stalls, selling Hawaiian lei garlands, glowsticks, novelty hats and other costume pieces.
Fans in attendance have braved all weather so far on Friday, with bright sunshine interspersed with heavy showers.
Kai Walker and Jasmine Brown, both aged 22, drove around six hours from Essex to Edinburgh for the concert.
Ms Brown said: “I’ve basically been a Taylor Swift fan since I was born, since I was a little girl. I saw her live on her Reputation tour (in 2018).”
Mr Walker, dressed in a tuxedo, pale pink waistcoat and tie, said: “I think I’m most looking forward to a song called Enchanted that she sings because it was the song me and Jasmine first heard when we got together”.
Ms Brown, who was wearing a pink dress, added: “Aw, that was really cute! I’m the same as Kai obviously, but I’m also looking forward to the song Lover and also The Tortured Poets Department set.”
Trams packed full of Swift fans have been arriving at the tram stop near the stadium.
The US popstar restructured the concert as she kicked off the European leg of her juggernaut tour in Paris at the beginning of May.
She cut several songs to showcase music from her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, including But Daddy I Love Him, Down Bad, Fortnight, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.
Those tracks are widely interpreted to be about her rumoured romance with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy.
Fans have compared some of the staging of numbers in that section of the show to performances by the British singer, including Swift’s theatrics in the transition to I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.
Getty ImagesTaylor Swift fans queue outside Murrayfield stadium ahead of Friday’s concert. Getty Images
The use of marching drummers and a salute during The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived also bears a striking similarity to videos of a Healy performance.
Swift dubbed the new section of her show Female Rage: The Musical.
She has also started repeating songs in the “surprise song” portion of her acoustic set, and introducing mash-ups.
The US star arrives in the UK on June 7 for three nights at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh before playing three nights at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, followed by a performance at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and then three back-to-back shows at London’s Wembley.
Getty ImagesTaylor Swift fans outside Murrayfield stadium ahead of Friday night’s concert. Getty Images
She will also play three nights at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Swiftie Devon Dickinson, 11, has made hundreds of friendship bracelets to donate to people in care homes after making one for her 92-year-old great-grandmother.
Devon who is a P6 pupil at Buckstone Primary School in Edinburgh, came up with the idea to distribute hand-made bracelets in care homes after seeing how happy her great-grandmother Margaret was with the one she gave to her.
She has spent more than 50 hours making the bracelets and has made over 260 so far.
Devon said: “Me and my auntie are going. I was making them for the concert.
“She enjoys spending times with me and really liked the bracelet. I thought I could give it to other people in care homes.”
Margaret added: “We do everything together. They are just beautiful.
“It’s the colours [Taylor] wears too.”
“I’ve got into all this. I think its wonderful for the young to get participate with the elderly.”
What will the weather be like at Murrayfield for Taylor Swift’s concerts?
Getty ImagesThe rain came pouring down at Swift’s last concert in Lyon, but will Edinburgh suffer the same fate? Getty Images
STV meteorologist Sean Batty has the weather forecast for Murrayfield.
“Alright Swifties, I know it’s been a bit of a Cruel Summer so far, and we’re not Out of the Woods yet, it’s still going to be quite cool for the next few nights,” he said.
“Now I know you’ll not be there late enough for Midnight Rain, but there’s a very small chance of a shower for the end of Friday’s concert – so it might be worth taking a waterproof just in case!
“Otherwise, it’s looking good and dry for the gigs at Murrayfield, although with Swift breezes it will feel quite chilly in the shade for those of you in section W – so if your ticket has a W on it, wrap up warm.
“For those of you in the E section you’ll be in the evening sunshine so it should feel a bit warmer here.
“Have fun and stay safe and sound!”
How has Scotland welcomed Taylor Swift?
As Swifties descend on Edinburgh for Swift’s three-night run of her sold out Eras Tour concerts, the US superstar has had the stadium she will be playing in renamed in her honour.
The Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium will host 200,000 fans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as Swift runs through her extensive musical catalogue for a colourful concert which has delighted fans from America to Australia.
Opening the UK leg of her tour in Edinburgh may be a nod to Swift’s Scottish heritage, which she previously revealed during her last concert in Scotland in 2015.
Smarts StudioScottish Gas switched its stadium signage to ‘Scottish Lass’ to greet the singer and celebrate her roots Smarts Studio
Explaining that her father had emailed her ahead of her performance to inform her of the family’s Scottish roots, she told fans that she was “proud” to be one of them.
She said: “In the subject line it said ‘tell Scotland this’, and in the email he said our whole family is from Scotland and you have to tell them that.
“So I am one of you, and I’m proud because this crowd is amazing.”
The singer later added: “I happen to love Scottish people, personally.”
Now Scottish Gas has gone one further, by renaming the stadium Scottish Lass in Taylor’s honour.
Heart ScotlandLoch Tay Tay sign unveiled Heart Scotland
It’s not the only iconic Scottish spot renamed in honour of the pop sensation.
Loch Tay in Perthshire has been renamed Loch Tay Tay in tribute to the singer.
A ceremony was held on the loch with bagpipers playing renditions of Swift’s songs while a new sign was unveiled by Heart’s Danni Menzies.
Andrew Howe, chairman of Largo Leisure, said: “What could be more fitting for pop royalty like Taylor Swift than having one of the most impressive lochs in Scotland named after her?”
Ahead of Friday’s opening gig, Traffic Scotland revealed that Ingliston Park and Ride is already full – however spaces remain available at Hermiston Park and Ride.
