Toronto has always had a remarkable love for live music, but when the Eras Tour rolled into the Rogers Centre, it felt like the city had been swept up in something even bigger than usual. Having attended her Reputation Tour here in 2018, I thought that was the pinnacle of Taylor Swift’s stadium performances—but somehow, the Eras Tour surpassed even that. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a full-blown cultural event.
There was no escaping it. Everywhere you turned, from pubs hosting Taylor themed paint nights to fans organizing an unofficial “Taylgate” party minutes from the arena, you knew Toronto was really leaning into Swift fever. One thing I wasn’t expecting though was the announcement that the city had installed 22 “Taylor Swift Way” street signs, stretching from City Hall all the way to the Rogers Centre because why not.
Supporting Swift on this leg of the tour was Gracie Abrams, whose recent Grammy nomination for her duet with Taylor made her an especially fitting choice for the opening slot. Abrams’ tender vocals and introspective indie-pop sound set the perfect tone for the night, with her heartfelt performance serving as a warm-up to the sheer scale of what was to come.
When Swift takes the stage, she does so with a presence that can only be described as enchanting. It’s been five albums and a whole headache of a pandemic since her last visit, and you could tell the crowd were waiting in anticipation the whole time knowing that after covid they’d be in for something monumental from Taylor.
The name “Eras Tour” couldn’t be more fitting. Taylor Swift seamlessly transitioned from one era of her career to the next, moving from pop anthems to bedazzled country ballads, and then into stripped-down folk melodies making sure not to lose her audience even for a second. The pacing of the show was flawless. From the opening notes of “Cruel Summer” to the tear-inducing rendition of “All Too Well” that has become an iconic part of the tour, it was clear that this was more than your regular setlist: it was a carefully curated three and a half hour journey through Taylor’s musical growth.
The set design was breathtaking through its constant changes combining physical stage elements with perfectly timed and placed visuals. The stage itself extending into a sea of synchronized LED wristbands glowing on the audience’s wrists, making the entire stadium feel like part of the performance. It was a surreal sight, both intimate and overwhelmingly grand.
As expected, the show was filled with breathtaking production value. Pyrotechnics made a cameo during high-energy tracks like “Bad Blood”. But it wasn’t all fire and lights, the stage worked just as well for stripped back songs the likes of “Betty” and “Champagne Problems”, showing just how versatile she is at commanding the stage.
What struck me most about the night was the sheer diversity of the crowd. There were people of all ages, from young teens who were experiencing live music for the first time to older fans who had been there from the very beginning. It felt like we were all part of something bigger than just a concert—it was a collective experience. I feel sorry for those experiencing live music for the first time having the bar set so high.
Being at the tail end of the tour, Toronto was lucky enough to get a taste of tracks from her “The Tortured Poets Department” (TTPD) era, something that was missing from the Australian shows. It was quite the treat for fans who had been waiting months for this album to make its way into the live show. Devoting about half an hour of the show to TTPD, Swift shuffled through “But Daddy I Love him,” “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” and the standout “Fortnight”.
For one of her acoustic surprise song segments, Taylor invited her opening act, Gracie Abrams, back to the stage as the first special guest of the Canadian shows to perform their duet “Us.” The intimate moment seamlessly transitioning into “Out of the Woods,” creating a beautiful flow between the two songs. Moving over to the piano, Taylor then performed a medley of “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and “Long Story Short,” the former of which has become an anthem for fans, often linked to the friendship bracelet exchange that’s become a beloved tradition at her shows.
It’s hard to imagine how Taylor Swift or any artist can top this level of extravaganza. The Eras Tour is not just a concert; it’s an experience. One that will leave you dizzy, exhausted, and incredibly grateful for the chance to witness it in person.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Taylor Swift continues The Eras Tour in Toronto on November 21, 23 & 24 before heading over to Vancouver to end the tour on December 6, 7 & 8.
Setlist:
1. Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
2. Cruel Summer
3. The Man
4. You Need To Calm Down
5. Lover
6. Fearless
7. You Belong With Me
8. Love Story
9. 22
10. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
11. I Knew You Were Trouble
12. All Too Well
13. Enchanted
14. …Ready For It?
15. Delicate
16. Don’t Blame Me
17. Look What You Made Me Do
18. Cardigan
19. Betty
20. Champagne Problems
21. August
22. Illicit Affairs
23. My Tears Ricochet
24. Marjorie
25. Willow
26. Style
27. Blank Space
28. Shake It Off
29. Wildest Dreams
30. Bad Blood
31. But Daddy I Love Him / So High School
32. Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?
33. Down Bad
34. Fortnight
35. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
36. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
37. Us. / Out Of The Woods
38. You’re On Your Own, Kid / Long Story Short
39. Lavender Haze
40. Anti-Hero
41. Midnight Run
42. Vigilante Shit
43. Bejeweled
44. Mastermind
45. Karma
Photos by the author.
