One of the most musical cities in the world is gearing up to transform itself into a Taylor Swift themed wonderland to welcome the pop superstar as she brings her Eras Tour to the UK for the first time.
More than 150,000 swifties from far and wide will descend on Liverpool for her three sold-out stadium shows at Anfield, taking place between June 13 and 15.
The Northern city, often dubbed the birthplace of pop, will morph into ‘Taylor Town’ from June 8 to celebrate the singer with a series of art installations inspired by some of her most iconic musical moments.
At the heart of the festivities will be the Taylor Town Trail, which will feature eleven art installations, each inspired by a different Taylor Swift Era.
Set up by the team that helped deliver Eurovision last year, Taylor Town aims to create a special city experience for the tens of thousands of fans who will be travelling from across the world.
From Lover to Reputation, locations such as Liverpool ONE, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool and the Metquarter will play host to new works which reflect the style and stories of each album.
Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team has partnered up with creative social enterprise Make CIC and a whole host of artists and makers from across the Liverpool City Region to curate the installations.
A stunning moss-covered grand piano will represent the evermore era, meanwhile a ‘red room’ will be there for fans of Red era.
Giant heart installations are reminiscent of the 34-year-old star’s Lover era, as well as a mural inspired by the number 13 and the Fearless era.
Alongside this, a series of ticketed craft workshops – called Liverpool Loves Taylor (Craft Version) will also take place at the Metquarter.
Swifties will be able to get creative with origami which will eventually form part of one of the installations and transform t-shirts in a session called Swif-tee transformation.
There will also be opportunities to upcycle denim, make collages and decorate cupcakes – all inspired by the Anti Hero singer.
Businesses and organisations across the city will also be getting involved in the Taylor action – including the University of Liverpool who are hosting a free Tay Day.
The event will be a unique symposium for academics, students and fans to unpack the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.
It will include critical karaoke sessions, where researchers perform their findings to some of Taylor’s biggest hits and a series of interactive talks on subjects including her song lyrics, her award-winning albums and her place in feminism and the LGBTQ+ community.
Finally, to extend a warm welcome, there will be a Liverpool Loves Taylor information stand in operation at Liverpool Lime Street Station from 13 – 15 June, 9am to 6pm.
The team will be on hand to assist with any queries about what’s happening across the city and how to get to the concerts.
An impressive Liverpool Loves Taylor banner has also been installed on the façade of St George’s Hall as an additional welcome to fans.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
‘If there was ever going to be a city that would go all-out with a welcome for Taylor Swift and the Swifties it was bound to be Liverpool!
‘For more than a year we’ve been watching the impact Taylor has had at every location on her tour date – wherever she goes, an entourage of adoring fans follow, and latest figures show they are traveling from across the globe to enjoy the European leg of the tour.’
Make CIC’s Co-Founder Kirsten Little added: ‘We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Culture Liverpool for the Liverpool Loves Taylor Project.
‘This collaboration, which involves working closely with 12 talented local makers, is a testament to the vibrant artistic talent thriving within our city.
‘By showcasing the work of these artists through engaging installations, we’re not only making art more accessible, but also actively contributing to the local economy, and highlighting Liverpool as a hub of creativity and innovation.
‘This inclusive and accessible experience invites fans and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the energy of Liverpool’s art scene, uniting Taylor Swift Fans, locals, and visitors to the city.’
It comes after the news that global phenomenon and the undisputed Queen of pop is set to boost the British economy by almost £1 billion, a new report has revealed.
Researchers have calculated each Swiftie attending an Eras concert in the UK will spend on average £848 to see their idol perform.
The total is more than 12 times the average £67 cost of a UK night out and the Chancellor can expect a £997 million boost to the economy thanks to Taylor’s 15 tour dates this summer.
