Taylor Swift fans take over Detroit, attend Friday concert all glammed up

Swifties took over downtown Detroit Friday night as they flocked towards Ford Field for the highly anticipated Taylor Swift concert — adorned in their album-inspired outfits, friendship bracelets, glitter and cherry red lips. Every one of Swift’s albums was represented in the crowd, from “Fearless” and “Speak Now” to “Folklore” and “Midnights. ” Nearby bars and restaurants played Swift’s music on a loop.

Family members, friends and lovers —from Michigan and out of state— gathered for photos while singing along and making guesses as to what two mystery songs the beloved artist will play tonight. “Welcome to Detroit!” fans chanted as Swift’s “Welcome to New York” blasted through the Tin Roof’s speakers. Birthdays, last minute tickets and friendship bracelets To celebrate her 30th birthday, Malissa Murray’s friends, Courtney Hurley of Toronto and Lisa Bell of Washington, D.

C. , flew to Detroit to attend the Eras concert with her. “I flew in this morning,” said Bell.

“I got up at 4 a. m. and got on a flight so I could make it here for her birthday and for the concert.

” True Swift fans from the start, Murray, Hurley and Bell said they grew up with the artist and still resonate with many of her songs. “I’m looking forward to ’22,'” Bell said. “We were 22 when that song came out, and we were around 15 when ’15’ came out.

” While hypothesizing about what the surprise songs might be tonight, Murray said “‘London Boy’ or ‘King of My Heart,’ because she mentions Motown in both of them. ” More: Taylor Swift hits Ford Field stage in first of two Detroit concerts Jaclyn Taggart and her boyfriend, David Berger, both 20, flew in from Nebraska and bought last minute concert tickets right outside Ford Field. They spent over $2,000 for the two tickets.

“We’ve been checking all of the resale sites. We spent a lot of money, but we want to go in,” Taggart said. “My brother lives here in Ann Arbor, so we basically bought our outfits, bought plane tickets here, bought our bus tickets to get here, just in hopes that on our way we would be able to get tickets.

. . .

I’ve been a fan of (Swift) since 2013. Me and my mom got to go see her during the Reputation stadium tour and it was a lot easier to get tickets then. ” Dressed as “Ms.

Americana & The Heartbreak Prince,” Berger said he was most looking forward to hearing that song, but he was also still feeling the anxiety of the payment he just made. Garden City resident Tanner Oleskie, 25, was in charge of buying tickets for his friend group; before attending the show, they all got ready and made friendship bracelets at his house. The group even went the extra mile and made additional bracelets to share with fellow fans at the concert, creating connections with others who shared their love for Swift.

Family trips and surprises Kaylin Skyber, 20, drove over 9 hours from South Carolina, with her best friend Anna Grace Bridges, and her mother, Amy Williamson, to visit her grandparents in Toledo and attend the Eras concert in Detroit. “I’ve been a fan of hers for as long as I can remember. I went to the Red Tour in Ford Field in 2013,” Skyber said.

“My grandparents got me tickets for the Eras (Tour), so we came up and saw them and now we’re here (in Detroit) for Taylor. ” Skyber’s favorite Swift song is “Clean” from the album “1989,” she said. The set list song she was most looking forward to hearing was “My Tears Ricochet.

” “My biggest thing that I’m looking forward to is just reliving this concert with my daughter nine years later and just seeing it through her eyes again,” Williamson said. Gretchen Whitmer to Taylor Swift: Michigan has been waiting for you Lindsey Garland of Rochester waited in the Eras Tour online queue for 7 to 8 hours to get tickets. But the wait was worth it, as she was able to surprise her 11-year-old daughter, Emma, with her first ever concert.

“I’m really hoping, for the mystery song, she plays ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,'” Emma said, with shimmering gemstones in the shape of a heart around her right eye, inspired by Swift’s “Lover” album cover. Taylor-gating Fans who were not able to get tickets usually stick around the venue to hear whatever they can — similar to a tailgate party, but in this case, it’s called Taylor-gating. Attending the concert alone from Toledo was 21-year-old Rumana Ali.

Her sister dropped her off but will be Taylor-gating outside Ford Field until the show is over. “People who don’t have tickets just sit outside and listen to the show, especially for the surprise songs,” Ali said. “But the one thing about Ford Field is that it’s a closed stadium, so people might not be able to hear that well, but it’s fun.

” Swift is set to play another night in Ford Field, on Saturday. Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress. com.