It won’t be long now before the wait is over for the country’s many “Swifties”. On Thursday evening, Taylor Swift, one of the most successful musicians in the world at the moment, will take to the stage for the first time at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. Her crew has already made it to Vienna, and work has been going on in the stadium for days to prepare the area for the 3.5-hour show.
“Swifties” from all over Europe and beyond will therefore be making a pilgrimage to Vienna in the coming days, and the anticipation is also growing among all those who managed to get their hands on the coveted tickets last summer, two hours’ drive away in Styria. One of them is Dennis Maritschnik. The Styrian from Trofaiach saved up for his tickets for a whole year – and then got a big win. “I’m going to all three concerts,” he says happily. He’s attending concerts one and two with friends, concert three with his aunt. “It was a birthday present,” he says. He fought hard for the tickets. “It was the last week of my community service at the Spektrum youth center in Leoben and luckily they gave me time off so I could buy tickets,” he remembers. In the end, he got one front of the stage ticket and a VIP ticket. “The VIP tickets were a bit of an impulse purchase,” he says with a grin. “It was really stressful, we were afraid we wouldn’t get any tickets at all.”
Dennis Maritschnik sees Taylor Swift three times © Private
Last Taylor concert six years ago
A year later, the time has come, the friendship bracelets have been tied, the outfits are ready. For one of his looks, the Styrian was inspired by the album “Midnights” and ironed stars onto the blue fabric. The Styrian became a fan by chance, during the pandemic. “Folklore and Evermore grabbed me, then I listened to her other albums and was thrilled.” Maritschnik is most impressed by Swift’s songwriting. “The way she plays with metaphors and writes lyrics that everyone can relate to is cool. I also love how different her albums are in terms of genre.”
The “Swifties” in Vienna want to exchange numerous friendship bracelets © Private
The last time Taylor Swift played in Europe was six years ago. Valentina Leskoschek was there live in London back then. For the 31-year-old, it was her first big concert. “And the best one I’ve been to in my life so far.” Robbie Williams also made a surprise appearance on stage at the time. It was therefore only natural that the Styrian wanted to be part of the Eras tour in Vienna. “I get goosebumps just thinking about seeing her live again after such a long time, surrounded by thousands of fans,” said the lawyer. “The anticipation alone, which you have for a year and keep imagining what it will be like, is something very special.”
Valentina Leskoschek was already part of the Reputation Tour 2018 © Private
“You can just be a woman”
She has been collecting outfit ideas for months, and in the end she decided on a sequin cape with metallic blue cowboy boots. Her outfit is also a sign of how safe “Swifties” feel at concerts, she says. “The cape is not opaque and I’m only wearing a bodysuit underneath, which I would never dare to do otherwise, but with Taylor’s fans I don’t have to worry about being harassed or looked at strangely. You can just be yourself as a woman.”
At the concert, the outfit has to fit © Private
Anna Robosch, a member of the Graz SPÖ council, also says that the American’s concerts are a “safe space” for women and queer people. “In our society, things that are primarily consumed by women and queer people tend to be viewed negatively, even though Taylor, among other things, reaches out to entire generations with her music and strengthens their self-confidence. At the same time, her success at the moment is also causing people to finally dare to really show their enthusiasm and stop apologizing for their passion, hobbies and desires.”
Companion through the first heartbreak
Robosch has also been a big fan of the artist for a long time and will be there live in Vienna. “Like so many others, I grew up with her, she accompanied me through my first heartbreak and is simply a great role model for me in many areas.” Robosch recently even won a Taylor Swift pub quiz. “I dare say that I know almost everything about her,” she jokes. Like Maritschnik, Robosch is also impressed by the musician’s diversity; the concerts in Vienna are her first Taylor concerts, and the outfits for concerts one and two are already ready.
Municipal councillor Anna Robosch has been a fan since day one © Private
She already has a plan for the concert days. “We’re leaving on Wednesday so that we can get ready early on Thursday and drive to the stadium. We want to buy some merchandise,” she says. The Styrian isn’t just looking forward to the concert. “The whole thing around it, exchanging wristbands and meeting people is just as much a part of the experience for me as the concert itself.”
For the concert, Robosch makes part of her outfit herself © Private
Power woman with a message
Isabella Kaspar from Graz stops off at the concert shortly before her vacation. “I’m going to the concert and flying away the next day,” she says. For her, the Taylor concert on August 8th is her personal premiere. “I’ve never been so well prepared, I’ve been listening to her setlist on repeat for weeks and I’m really looking forward to it.” 30 friendship bracelets are waiting to be exchanged, she says.
Before her vacation, Isabella Kaspar makes a stop at the Taylor concert – in a Fearless dress © Private
For the 24-year-old, Taylor Swift is a power woman. “Her message is simply great and it’s also impressive how long she stays on stage – you have to be able to do that once.” Kaspar still remembers the excitement when buying tickets. “My girlfriend and I kept each other up to date on WhatsApp and because the seating plan didn’t work, we bought tickets ‘blind’, so we don’t even know where we’ll be sitting,” she says. “So we’re not just letting ourselves be surprised by the ‘surprise songs’ in the setlist.”
