Taylor Swift’s Friday night Eras concert rocks fans in Vancouver

Taylor Swift was greeted with a roar for the first of three sold-out shows marking the grand finale of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 3 minute read

Seattle resident Danielle Barnard and her daughter Eme, 13, inside B.C. Place during the Dec. 7 Taylor Swift concert. Photo by Danielle Barnard

The first of the Eras Tour shows in Vancouver on Friday night was unimaginable for a Seattle mother who, just a year ago, was listening to Taylor Swift’s music to soothe her daughter who was fighting for her life in hospital.

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“Taylor Swift performed a mash-up with Never Grow Up — the one song we would always skip when Eme was on life support because I couldn’t sing ‘don’t you ever grow up’ lyrics to my baby when we didn’t know if she was going to pull through,” said Danielle Barnard.

The 44-year-old and her 13-year-old daughter attended the sold-out concert at B.C. Place on Friday. The last time the pair were set to see Swift live, in May, the teenager was unable to attend after suffering a cardiac arrest.

“To watch Eme sing those lyrics alongside tens of thousands of other people, now OK after that incident — I sobbed.”

Eme Barnard, 13, from Seattle was thrilled to attend the Taylor Swift concert in Vancouver Friday.

The moment was one of many emotionally charged experiences during the Eras Tour, which spanned five continents and nearly 150 shows, making history as the first tour to surpass $1 billion in earnings.

In Vancouver Friday, Eme wore a lilac dress, Swift’s signature country curls and a tiara inspired by the pop star’s Fearless album.

“A girl came up to me, said ‘I love your outfit, you need this bracelet,’ and handed me a Speak Now friendship bracelet,” the teen said. “It was the best day of my life.”

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Taylor Swift fans gather in downtown Vancouver for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver, B.C. on December 6, 2024. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by . Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver.Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver, B.C. on December 5, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver December 5, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Taylor Swift fans, including Anthea Cory, gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver on Dec. 5, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Vancouver Police Department horses with their friendship bracelets on the first night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert at B.C Place. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by .Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver December 5, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10106633A

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver December 5, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

VPD horses spotted with their friendship bracelets on Robson Street. Aleesha Harris photo

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver December 5, 2024. Photo by ALEESHA HARRIS / PNG

Taylor Swift fans Alice Lo with daughters Makaelyn (left) and Miela gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10106633A

Taylor Swift fans outside B.C. Place Dec. 6, 2024. Rich Lam/PNGPhoto by . Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver on December 6, 2024. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver on December 6, 2024. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Vancouver Police officers load up on friendship bracelets while working the streets outside B.C. Place Stadium before the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Vancouver police officers trade friendship bracelets with Taylor Swift fans on the first night of the Eras Tour concerts in Vancouver. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Vancouver police officers trade friendship bracelets with Taylor Swift fans on the first night of the Eras Tour concerts in Vancouver. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by RICHARD LAM /PNG

A member of the Vancouver Police trades friendship bracelets with a fan outside B.C. Place Stadium before the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Fans pose in front of the RED Taylor Swift sign at B.C. Place on the first night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert at B.C Place. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Fans of Taylor Swift pose for a photo while in the line up on Robson Street to enter B.C. Place ahead of her concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Fans line up to take photos at the Swiftcouver sign in downtown Vancouver. Aleesha Harris

Taylor Swift fans gather at a pre-concert party at Bentalll Centre in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver.Photo by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Vancouver police officers on duty the first night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts in Vancouver. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Laura Priddle of Newfoundland poses for a photo outside BC Place Stadium prior to the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Taylor Swift fans trade friendship bracelets outside B.C. Place prior to the start of the Taylor Swift concert.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Taylor Swift fans (from left) Karla Farina, Paige and Karen Dawe of Spokane, Wash., pose for a photo outside B.C. Place Stadium before the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Fans line up outside B.C. Place Stadium prior to the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Fans line up to take photos at the Swiftcouver sign in downtown Vancouver. Photo: Aleesha Harris

Fans pose in front of the RED Taylor Swift sign at B.C. Place on the first night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert at B.C Place. Rich Lam / PNGPhoto by Rich Lam / PNG /PNG

Fans line up to take photos at the Swiftcouver sign in downtown Vancouver. Photo: Aleesha Harris

From left, Sara Tung, Fiona Yuen, Emily Kwan, Edna Hui and Ernie Kwan pose in front of the giant inflatable Taylor Swift bracelet on BC Place in Vancouver, Dec. 5, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

Taylor Swift fans gather in Vancouver’s Gastown in their best Eras Tour merch, awaiting the steam clock’s chime to the tune of “Shake It Off.” in Vancouver, B.C. on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by ALEESHA HARRIS / PNG

The Capilano suspension bridge in North Vancouveris adorned with a Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelet Dec. 5, just in time to mark the superstar’s concerts in Vancouver this weekend. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

A Taylor Swift fan poses with the KARMA sign in downtown Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Fans pose for a photo with the DOWN BAD sign in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

Members of the Vancouver Police Mounted Squad with the horses wearing their friendship bracelets outside B.C. Place Stadium prior to the start of the Taylor Swift Concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG

VPD horses spotted with their friendship bracelets on Robson Street. Aleesha Harris photo

December 6 2024. Fans inside B.C. Place waiting for Taylor Swift concert to start. Photo: Aleesha Harris / PNG

Vancouver, B.C.: Dec. 6, 2024: Inside B.C. Place as crowds started to stream inside B.C. Place stadium for Taylor Swift’s first Vancouver concert on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo: Aleesha HarrisPhoto by Aleesha Harris

December 6 2024. Fans inside B.C. Place waiting for Taylor Swift concert to start. Photo: Aleesha Harris / PNG

Vancouver, B.C.: Dec. 6, 2024: Inside B.C. Place as crowds started to stream inside B.C. Place stadium for Taylor Swift’s first Vancouver concert on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo: Aleesha HarrisPhoto by Aleesha Harris

A fan poses in front of an inflatable friendship bracelet before the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert stop in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER, B.C., December 6, 2024 – Taylor Swift fans gather outside B.C. Place Stadium for the first of three concerts at the end of the Eras tour, in Vancouver, B.C. on December 5, 2024. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG) 10106633A [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Fans sing while watching Gracie Abrams perform as the opening act before Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, December 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs her first of three Eras Tour concerts in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift performs her first of three Eras Tour concerts in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo by TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, December 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, December 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Concertgoers watch on during Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /AP

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Concertgoers watch Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, December 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Concertgoers watch on during Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /AP

Concertgoers watch on during Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver.Photo by Lindsey Wasson /AP

Gracie Abrams performs as the opening act before Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, December 6, 2024.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Gracie Abrams performs as the opening act before Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Seattle resident Danielle Barnard and her daughter Eme, 13, inside B.C. Place during the Dec. 7 Taylor Swift concert.Photo by Danielle Barnard

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Outside the stadium Friday, hundreds of fans gathered, undeterred by officials’ warnings to stay away, dancing under umbrellas to the sound of live music spilling from the venue.

Jennifer Yahne, in town from Seattle for Sunday’s show, said she was “blown away” by the sight.

“There was a concert outside of the concert that you could hear for blocks,” said Yahne. “We walked down Beatty Street and there were at least 1,000 people, all having fun — there was no mob, it was all community spirit.”

Inside B.C. Place, Swift was greeted with a roar for the first of three sold-out shows marking the grand finale of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

As part of a local fan-organized initiative, the crowd gave extended cheers and foot-stomping to Swift following her performance of Champagne Problems from her album, Folklore.

Swift said: “Right now, honestly, I’m just feeling so overjoyed that we decided to spend our last couple of shows in Vancouver. You are so unbelievable; I love you so much.”

“We spent the entire year of 2024 travelling around the world,” Swift said earlier in the show. “And we thought to ourselves, ‘Where have the fans been so generous, so welcoming, so warm-hearted, where they know every single word, where they not only sing them but scream them? Oh, we’ve got to go back to Canada.’ And so now here we are.”

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Celebrities including Michael Bublé, Sarah Paulson and Leona Lewis were spotted among the crowd Friday.

Social media accounts shared photos of Swift with a film crew onstage during the Vancouver concert, fuelling speculation of an Eras documentary, which comes after the release of her concert film that is the highest-grossing concert movie, earning over $267 million

For Barnard, it was the “most positive and joyful group” she’d ever encountered during a concert, while also being the loudest and rowdiest.

“During Shake It Off, everyone was jumping up and down so hard that the stage was shaking,” said her daughter Eme.

READ MORE STORIESabout Taylor Swift in Vancouver.

sgrochowski@postmedia.com

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