Taylor Swift Liverpool: Anfield concerts get code name as city begins preparations

In less than six months time, arguably the world’s biggest pop star is heading to Liverpool. If you somehow missed last summer’s announcement, Taylor Swift is to perform her Eras tour at Anfield for three nights in June. It is the first time the Anti-Hero singer has performed in the UK for five years.

Such is the planning that goes into staging major events like a megastar concert, Liverpool Council culture officials have revealed it even has a special Swifty code name.

The UK and Europe leg of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour kicks off on May 9 in Paris and will wrap up in August in London. Fans described the experience of simply registering to sign up for tickets as “insane” while the grab for access to watch the American superstar in action was likened to a “bloodbath” given her popularity with UK fans.

Addressing the Liverpool Council culture and economy select committee on Tuesday, Sue Gibson of Culture Liverpool, revealed a special working group has been established to plan for the three nights in L4. Ms Gibson said it has even been given a special name to reflect the event: Taylor Town.

She added how when people come into the city in June on public transport, the presence of the multi-Grammy award winner will be felt. Ms Gibson said: “When you get off a train, it won’t be hard to notice Taylor Swift has landed.”

A number of elements go into the preparation for hosting the 34-year-old’s gigs in the city, with a particular focus on safeguarding given the likely younger age bracket of fans expected to flock to the home of Liverpool FC. Cllr Portia Fahey, Everton North ward member, said discussions were underway about the extension of the Soccerbus service used for match going fans to be put on for Swifties. No parking will be provided for the gigs in June.

The Anfield shows are not the singer’s first foray with Liverpool, of course.

Ahead of the announcement of her sell-out tour, Taylor was spotted filming at landmarks across the city for the video to accompany her single I Can See You. The video featured actress Joey King and Twilight actor and Swift’s ex-boyfriend Taylor Lautner.

Posting online about the video after its release, the singer said she was “so proud” of the Liverpool-based shoot. In the video Joey is seen leaving a van on Castle Street before “breaking in” to a room inside the Cunard Building (the interior was filmed in the old NatWest building on Castle Street which is full of glass boxes with former outfits Taylor Swift has worn on previous tours and music videos.

Joey is joined by Lautner as they start fighting a gang of masked men inside the iconic building. Once Swift is freed from the vault all three of the celebs are seen running out of a side door of the Cunard Building on Water Street. 

Moments later the door is blown up behind them. A clip at the end of the video shows a white van driving by Tobacco Warehouse on Regent Street.