Taylor Swift mania in the UK is reaching boiling point with her arrival in Edinburgh imminent as fans visiting Scotland sell out hotels and race to buy merchandise.
Loch Tay, the largest loch in Perthshire, has been officially renamed Loch Tay Tay this morning to celebrate the 34-year-old bringing her record-breaking Eras Tour to Scotland on Friday.
Bagpipes played renditions of Taylor Swift songs at the renaming ceremony where a sign at the edge of the water was unveiled bearing the ancient beauty spot’s new name.
As anticipation for the superstar’s arrival builds, the radio station Heart Scotland last week asked listeners to pitch ideas on how best to honour the superstar’s arrival and Loch Tay Tay was chosen.
Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney – now dubbed Swinney the Swiftie – gave his seal of approval and said: ‘First thing I want to say to Taylor and all of her Swifties is they’re really welcome here in Scotland.
The fact that Loch Tay is being renamed Loch Tay Tay is just fabulous, I really hope she has the chance to go see it.’
Reacting to the SNP’s comments on the renaming of Loch Tay, one disapproving social media user wrote on X: ‘That is absolutely embarrassing.’
It comes as hundreds of fans queued for merchandise such as cocktails and t-shirts outside the Murrayfield Stadium, where Ms Swift is due to perform this weekend.
More than 220,000 people are expected at the three Edinburgh shows, with some fanatics buying tickets for all three nights.
Susan Berry, 48, took a half day off work and queued for merchandise from around 8am this morning.
She said: ‘I’ve never seen her live but I’ve watched it on Disney and watched the livestreams so I’ve actually seen it almost 100 times.’
Meanwhile, Swifties have even built a virtual 3D replica of the Murrayfield Stadium and shared it online so others can get a preview of the layout, where their seats will be and the best way to enter or exit the show.
Carla McCormick, 38, took a class at Glasgow Clyde College to teach non-fans everything they needed to know about the singer – how she became famous, songs about her ex-boyfriends and what chants her fans sing when at the shows.
She said: ‘The idea came about because there’s lots of people going to the Era’s tour who might not be Swifties because they are either parents or plus ones. We only had an hour and a half but everyone who came along really threw themselves into it.’
Swiftmania is expected to pump as much as £1billion into the British economy this summer with around 1.2 million tickets sold for gigs in Liverpool, Cardiff and London.
The Scottish capital has been gripped by Swiftmania ahead of the performances with huge signs in shop windows welcoming fans to the city.
Sophie Snow, 29, has tickets to all three of the Murrayfield gigs.
She said: ‘I’m looking forward to being in a room full of people who love who I love – it’s going to be the best feeling ever.
‘I would really love to hear Cornelia Street because I wrote a book that’s actually set on Cornelia Street so that would be really special to hear that.
‘I’ve got three outfits planned – so for night one, I’m dressing up in her willow outfit that she wears on tour.
‘For night two, I’m going as midnight rain and my husband is going as sunshine and then I’ve got a top with all the eras on and I’ve made a cardigan for night three.’
She added: ‘I think it’s going to welcome a lot of people to Edinburgh for the first time – as a lot of international fans are coming.
‘I feel like these events aren’t as common in Scotland so it would be nice to bring a lot of people in because hopefully they will come back.’
Bethen Hodges, 35, is going to the first Edinburgh concert and says she is ‘so excited’ to hear the surprise songs, where the mega star plays two random acoustic tunes.
She’s also looking forward to trading friendship bracelets with other fans, because they are all always ‘so nice to each other’.
Bethen, whose outfit is inspired by Taylor’s 2022 Midnights album, said: ‘It’s my first time seeing her and I’ve been so excited that sometimes I cry about it.
‘I’m excited for everything – the thought of trading bracelets makes me a bit nervous but I know everyone [is] going will be lovely, because Taylor’s fans are nice to each other.
‘I just can’t wait to see it in real life and hear the surprise songs.
‘I watch all the live streams of when she does other shows to hear the surprise songs and I’m just hoping she’s going to do one of my favourites.
‘One of my favourite songs is ‘You’re On Your Own, Kid’ and that’s one of her favourite songs as well but she’s just done that in Lyon.
‘But I think I would like maybe another song from Midnights, like Labyrinth, or something new from The Tortured Poets Department that she’s not done yet.
‘I’ll have anything really but I would prefer something from one of her more recent albums but honestly I’ll be happy with anything.’
Councillor Val Walker, head of Edinburgh Council’s culture and communities committee, said: ‘As we get ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of Swifties to our vibrant city, we are eager for everyone to have an enjoyable experience, not only at the show, but on their way before and after.
‘Whilst we relish hosting the biggest and best events and want everyone attending to truly enjoy themselves, it’s important that we’re conscious of our residents.
‘We ask that visitors are considerate and respectful of them whilst enjoying our fantastic capital city.
‘These concerts are just the start of an amazing summer of events and culture here in Edinburgh.’
