Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a cathartic, community celebration

It’s been a long time coming…

Taylor Swift’s music has been the soundtrack for most of my life. From singing “Our Song” in the car on the way to elementary school, to begging my mom to take me to HMV so I could buy Speak Now on CD, to seeing The Red Tour in high school, I feel like I have grown up with her. The release of Folklore was a beacon for me in the early days of the pandemic lockdowns and I celebrated and shared my 26th birthday with the release of Midnights. It has been a real gift to watch the recent Taylor renaissance unfold and I couldn’t have been more excited to finally experience the Eras Tour in Toronto. 

Taylor Swift performing “Cardigan” off of Folklore. 

Every moment of Toronto’s night five was magic. As the Eras Tour wraps up with this final Canadian leg, it’s clear to see Taylor has completely polished her performance. She has the audience in the palm of her hand from the moment the clock begins to count down and she doesn’t let go until the final bow at the evening’s closing song “Karma.” Night five was lucky enough to get the coveted tour debut of “Cassandra” off of The Tortured Poets Department on the piano, combined with “Mad Woman” off of Folklore and “I Did Something Bad,” from Reputation, which only added more sparks to the Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement fire. 

Beyond the music, the energy in Rogers Centre was incredible. The Eras Tour has been celebrated for creating a community and it is truly so special to see so many people embrace this experience. From trading bracelets to watching dads apply glitter to match their daughter’s outfits to screaming along to “fuck the patriarchy” during “All Too Well” with 49,000 other fans, Taylor has really crafted a safe space to sing and dance and cry both openly and passionately. 

Taylor’s Toronto opener, Gracie Abrams, put it best during her set, saying it’s hard to watch the tour end when it feels like this sense of community is what we need most over the next four years. But, I know I will carry that night with me and there will be many more nights ahead full of singing and celebration.