It was last Autumn, when I simply put on my Insta story that it would be kind of nice if someone would be able to nab me a ticket for one of the extra five gigs, which were joyfully announced after the first three for June 2024 sold out in minutes.

The joys of knowing lots of folks, particularly in politics meant that is very quickly became a reality and thus is why, with one of the best memories of my lifetime now banked - able to write this post, that saw these top bits be written the afternoon beforehand, in a Costa Coffee (other Roasteries are of course available) above Birmingham New Street.

In warming up for proceedings, I visited the friend in question for an overnighter, having spent the Saturday night (August 17^th) in catching up and making the important but crafty things in Friendship Bracelets. Little did I know how much of a phenomenon they have become in recent years and how sentimental they have become for Swifties everywhere.

Along with one showing my Birth Date – which I thought is something I can dig out at least once a year, I went with three track titles that have been featured in Taylor’s tour playlist in Anti-Hero; a song that is very good for pumping the KM’s whilst running, Don’t Blame Me; which feels a good and standard line when things go pear-shaped; and Wildest Dreams, which from start to finish is simply peerless.

Also watching the video of her second tour from 2012, which undoubtedly hoisted her into global superstardom was a nice way to warm up the vocals and see the scale of what was in store 48 hours later.

Skipping to the day itself, it started with an Online Group Interview for the West Midlands Future Board’s Accelerator that I took in a Coffee Shop in Brum, which will look to increase the number of younger folks on Boards and being Trustees of Cultural organisations throughout our region. Things went fine, even if no doubt green envy was etched on others faces when informing folks of my eventual location later that day.

Once arriving at London Euston, it was a short trip to check in at The Queen’s Hostel in White City, which with a 7.1 Rating on Booking.com was a breathtaking £19.80 for a one-night stay. For a sole evening, it did the job nicely and the tube working fine meant it was no problem that my accommodation was several miles away, from the microcosm of being among 92,000 under the arch of one of the world’s most spectacular venues.

When getting to Wembley and meeting up with my pal and her two good mates inside BOXPARK, you could see and feel the most real sense of friendliness and excitement etched across everyone’s faces. This no doubt increased upon turnstiles opening just after 4pm and for me, heading into the stadium bowl, to soon bear witness to my first non-football event and seeing the set from Block 550 made me almost pinch myself, in seeing the sheer scale of the place.

The two support artists were a tremendous warm-up. Maisie Peters no doubt will herself in time sellout Wembley, with her uplifting and trendy beat that effortlessly connects with my generation. And Paramore belting out tunes like Still Into You, will always go down a treat wherever you are, knowing how superb they have been to music and culture over the last near two decades.

 

And between 18:47-22:07, was the main event for a 3 hour, 20 minutes of a most enthralling kind. 14 costumes, 9 eras, 4 gripping surprise songs and 1 ecstatic crowd embraced one another which only music and its meanings can possibly do.

Belting out the high tempo tracks; not least Shake It Off which saw me put in the most effort I have ever done at a gig, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and You Need To Calm Down to name a few, filled me a sense of unbridled euphoria. The likes of Ready for It, Willow and Anti-Hero; of which had my eyeballs fill up knowing it’s a story of needing to have self-belief; delivered a sense of empowerment and immense emotion which gripped us all.

The surprise songs in the Acoustic section, including Change for the first time on the tour, sent a quite simply peerless message and warning shot to those back in the United States who seek to put their freedoms under threat. No doubt the Harris-Walz Campaign will push this narrative in an even greater form as November 5^th approaches.

Change was my political party’s slogan for the General Election last and thus the track simply resonates with all of us who want to advance the places we live within. My eyeballs welted somewhat, and my mate was in tears, with it a big song of motivation in their personal electoral endeavours over the last few years and I will no doubt make it a huge source of personal belief to me, whenever I decide to again take the plunge in seeking a mandate.

A wonderful aspect of the night was the stunning diversity of colour right throughout the show. The dark nature of Reputation majestically shows the album’s edgy nature, whilst 1989 having shades of blue and white tell a fabulous story of enjoyment and not being afraid in stating how it is.

The icing on top of the cake had to be after her singing Champagne Problems, of which was ironically done after a bit of rain saw Taylor declare it a wet show. Post her performance, all of Wembley created probably the loudest noise that I have ever personally encountered. A spontaneous applause, cheering, and screaming for a good 4 minutes straight will forever be a moment to remember and saviour and proved how awesome and humbling that the power of song can truly be.

With my ears still ringing as I typed the end bit of this blog post a Coffee at Euston Station, I without hesitation say that August 19^th, 2024, will go down as one the finest nights of my entire life; no matter how long I am alive and kicking. Taylor’s story, journey and music is embedded in the hearts of many across every nation of the globe and very much fits into a lot of what I have personally been through.

This I am sure is the first of many times in the coming decades, that I will get to see such a Queen doing her art and I hope that the West Midlands will again come calling, in whatever stadium they maybe. And I am sure I will visit Wembley for many more gigs too. The place as a concert venue alongside the national football stadium nails it to a T.

I no doubt witnessed one of the finest of our times so blissfully and magnificently grace one of the world’s biggest stages and with her only 34 years of age, much of Taylor’s legacy is yet to be put into place.

That in itself is what made it such a unique privilege and a moment which one will cherish, feeling utterly and completely Bejeweled!