Taylor Swift Wraps Red Tour

Taylor Swift’s 2013 Red Tour came to a close Saturday with three sold-out shows in Nashville.  The 6 month tour played before over a million fans, raking in over $100 million dollars.  Before the show, Taylor told the media why she decided to end the tour in Music City. “On the last tour, we ended in New York City.  I realized this is my hometown, and one of the craziest crowds ever.  Let’s end the Red Tour in Nashville!”

She could be right.  The first thing you notice about the Taylor Swift audience is how young and active they are.  They’re on their feet the whole night.  In addition, they all seem to have lighted signs.  At most concerts, fans bring hand-drawn signs on white poster board.  Well the bar has been raised.  These signs are far more elaborate, with lights, battery packs, and full color, and they bounce and sway to the rhythm of the music.  Walking in to the venue, all you see is a sea of colored lights bouncing to the music.

Taylor’s two previous tours were very elaborate, with multiple set changes, costume changes, and a trip into the audience.  This tour had all that, but it was a little more traditional, in terms of stage design, not based as much on fantasy.  She’s 22 years old, and so it’s a more adult show, with a wide range of emotion in her music.  She paused several times to talk about her life and how it inspired her music.  The lessons she’s learned from 6 years of fame.

But the goal of the show was to connect with her fans, and thank them for her success.  The staged was built with a huge “thrust” into the center of the arena, and she spent a lot of time near the edge, interacting with the audience.  At one point, her dancers carry her to a secondary stage in the back of the arena, where she performed several songs, including her duet with Ed Sheeran.  Then she stepped on a lift that carried her back to the main stage, hovering over the audience along the way.  There was a second lift over the audience during “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”  No matter where you sat, you probably got some good pictures. 

There were special guests during these final three nights.  Thursday’s show featured Luke Bryan.  Taylor told the crowd he flew across the country on his day off to appear.  They were not disappointed.  Luke & Taylor performed his #1 hit “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”  The fans agreed.  Friday night’s guest was Rascal Flatts, and on Saturday, Taylor brought out former opening act and teen sensation Hunter Hayes.  While we’re talking about guests, Taylor’s opening acts were equally energetic and engaging on stage.  The show began with American Idol finalist Casey James.  Then Taylor’s duet partner Ed Sheeran captivated the crowd with a solo performance.  Imagine a young British red-headed Bobby McFerrin.  Of course red hair on the Red Tour.  Ed plays a small acoustic guitar, builds riffs, records them on stage, then sings to them.  Very unique performer. 

Before the show, there was a brief press conference where Taylor received a bunch of plaques from her record label.  A series of #1 songs, including “Begin Again” and “Highway Don’t Care,” her duet with Tim McGraw.  Also plaques for album sales, including 4 million in the United Kingdom.  She told the press, “I’m so honored you want to see me.  This is the most important night of the tour for me.”  She also was asked what’s next?  “Another album.  I think I want to keep doing this.  But next for me is Australia.  The tour is over, but it’s not over for me.”  Taylor goes to Australia for two weeks at the end of November.  Then she’s expected to announce dates in Europe and Asia for 2014.  “In between, I’m in the studio, working on new songs.”  That new album will likely be released in the fall of 2014.

 

Tags: Taylor

Category: Photos