Concerts Reviews
Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour: A Night to Remember in Vancouver
Let me just start by saying this: it’s almost impossible to write a review of The Eras Tour without repeating what’s already been said. Whether you’ve seen the movie that premiered in October 2023 or seen endless TikToks and tweets raving about it, this tour has transcended just being a concert. It’s now a cultural phenomenon. But as I sat down to write about the first of Taylor Swift’s three sold-out shows at BC Place and the last Friday show of The Eras Tour ever, I realized the best way to capture what makes this experience special is not just by recapping the music (though I’ll do that too!) but by focusing on the atmosphere and the magic of the night.
The evening began with a land acknowledgment, recognizing that Vancouver is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It was a meaningful moment that set the tone for an inclusive and respectful experience.
Gracie Abrams opened the show, and wow, did she command the stage. Having last seen her perform at the Vogue Theatre in April 2023, it was incredible to witness her growth as an artist. Going from an intimate venue like the Vogue to opening at BC Place, packed with tens of thousands of people, is no small feat, but Gracie handled it with grace (pun intended!) and confidence. Her set was short but impactful, and she left the crowd buzzing for Taylor.
Vancouver Becomes Swift City
Taylor Swift’s three shows at BC Place are the grand finale of The Eras Tour, which kicked off in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, 2023, and will end on December 8, 2024. By the time the final confetti falls, Taylor will have played an incredible 149 shows worldwide. Vancouver truly pulled out all the stops to welcome her. An inflatable friendship bracelet (shipped all the way from Toronto) was wrapped around the stadium. The Vancouver Police Department even got into the spirit, decking out their horses with friendship bracelets around their necks. Destination Vancouver joined the fun by installing 13 light signs scattered across downtown, each featuring Taylor’s lyrics. Fans who visited these signs had the chance to win tickets to the show, which only added to the frenzy leading up to the weekend.
Walking around the city before the show, you could feel the excitement in the air. Groups of friends in coordinated outfits inspired by Taylor’s eras, families with moms and daughters hand-in-hand, and fans trading bracelets everywhere. It was like the city had been taken over by a joyful, glittery army of Swifties.
The Magic of Friendship and Community
If I had to pick one thing that truly makes The Eras Tour special, it’s the sense of community. The friendship bracelet exchange, a nod to the lyrics in You’re On Your Own, Kid, was in full swing. Even for someone who can be a little shy (guilty as charged!), the bracelets are the perfect icebreaker. I traded with fans from all over the world, each bracelet carrying its own story. And it wasn’t just friends exchanging bracelets; I saw mothers and daughters bonding, entire families dressed in theme, and even groups of coworkers out for a night of fun.
That sense of connection seems to amplify the energy of the show itself. In fact, Swifties are known for dancing so hard at Taylor’s concerts that they’ve literally shaken the earth. This happened in Seattle in July 2023, where their moves registered as seismic activity, and again in Edinburgh in June 2024, when monitors were triggered by fans’ collective enthusiasm. The energy in Vancouver definitely felt like it could spark a tremor of its own.
The Setlist and Show Recap
The show itself is a masterpiece. It kicked off with the Lover era and the pastel dreaminess of “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince,” setting the tone for a night that would be equal parts nostalgic and celebratory. From there, Taylor took us on a journey through her entire discography:
- Lover Era: Romantic and glowing, complete with “Cruel Summer” (cue the screams during “he looks up, grinnin’ like a devil!”).
- Fearless Era: A sweet, golden interlude with hits like “Love Story.”
- Red Era: Pure heartbreak and exhilaration during “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).”
- Speak Now Era: A short but emotional segment highlighted by “Enchanted.” The pastel tones were on point.
- Reputation Era: Dark, electric, and powerful with “…Ready For It?” and “Look What You Made Me Do.”
- Folklore/Evermore Era: Moody, enchanting, and absolutely stunning during “Willow,” where fans joined in with lit up orange balloons. “Marjorie” being my favourite Taylor Swift song, I was overjoyed that it was included on the setlist.
- 1989 Era: Glittering pop perfection, with “Shake It Off” and “Style” turning the stadium into a dance party. “Bad Blood’s” pyrotechnics kept everyone warm!
- The Torture Poets Department Era: An intense and deeply introspective part of the night, aptly dubbed Female Rage: The Musical, with “Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?” and “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.”
- Surprise songs: Taylor’s acoustic set has become one of the most anticipated parts of the tour. On guitar, she treated us to “Haunted” followed by “Wonderland,” joking that the latter was “perfect for Canada, eh?” thanks to its catchy “(Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh) in Wonderland” lyrics. Then, at the piano, she gave an emotional performance of “Never Grow Up” and “The Best Day,” leaving many of us misty-eyed.
- Midnights Era: Closing out the night with the dreamy, synthy vibes of “Anti-Hero” and “Karma.”
Each era was distinct, with Taylor’s costumes, staging, and choreography perfectly tailored to match the vibe. The transitions between eras were especially stunning, beautiful tableaux that often showcased the incredible talent of her dancers, who added depth and magic to each shift in tone, making the experience feel seamless and theatrical. The setlist was a marathon with over three hours and 40+ songs, but every moment felt deliberate and unforgettable.
Production Value Like No Other
I’ve been to a lot of concerts (already over 100 this year), but the production value of The Eras Tour is in a league of its own. The stage stretched across the stadium with a massive screen ensuring everyone had a great view. The visuals were breathtaking, from the enchanted forest of Folkmore to the lofty clouds of “Lavender Haze.” The way the lighting, pyrotechnics, and stage transformations worked in harmony was incredible. And don’t even get me started on the bracelets that lit up in sync with the music. Standing in the crowd felt like being part of a living work of art.
The sheer scale of this tour is staggering. By the end of 2024, it’s estimated that Taylor will have brought over $2 billion from ticket sales and merchandise, making it one of the most profitable tours in history.
Why It’s A Show For Everyone
Confession time: I’m not the kind of fan who knows every Taylor lyric (I’m showing my age here, but Spice Girls will always hold that title for me), but even so, this was one of the best shows I’ve ever attended. Taylor’s charisma and storytelling make her songs accessible even if you’re not a die-hard fan. The energy of the crowd, the flawless production, and the sheer joy of the night make it impossible not to have fun.
As I left the stadium with my voice hoarse and my arms full of new bracelets, I couldn’t stop smiling. And guess what? I’ll be back for Night 2 today. Bring it on, Taylor!
We would like to thank Taylor and her team for having us at their show.
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Joji’s Solaris Tour Makes an Impact in Montreal
For an artist whose music thrives on intimacy, melancholy, and emotional vulnerability, Joji’s concert at Montreal’s Centre Bell on June 20th, 2026 was no exception to these themes. With the size of the venue, holding roughly 16k fans for a concert, it is tough to set a scene intimate enough to make the room feel close and personal, but Joji seemed to pull it off with a polished ease. Supporting acts Nate Sib and Corbin also contributed to the evening’s tone. Their performances helped establish the night’s mood while introducing the audience to emerging artists whose work shares similar lyrical moods and music style with Joji’s discography. By the time Joji took the stage, the Centre Bell crowd was fully engaged and erupting in cheers from the moment the lights went down.
The Montreal stop came early in Joji’s highly anticipated Solaris Tour, a massive North American and European run supporting his latest album Piss In The Wind. Longtime fans could tell this was more than just a regular tour for Joji, but more so a reminder of how far he has come since emerging from internet culture as George Kusunoki Miller, the creator behind “The Filthy Frank Show” on YouTube and Pink Guy personas, before reinventing himself as one of contemporary music’s most distinctive alternative R&B voices. He even popularized the Harlem Shake dance!
Many initially viewed the transition with skepticism, assuming his musical ambitions wouldn’t reach the same heights as his online persona, but instead, Joji steadily established himself as a real artist, releasing acclaimed projects including BALLADS 1, Nectar, SMITHEREENS, and most recently, Piss In The Wind.
His music blends alternative R&B, lo-fi production, electronic textures, and pop songwriting, creating a distinctive sound that is deserving of the success he found. Today, he stands as one of the great examples of an internet creator successfully reinventing themselves as a legitimate recording artist.
By the time the lights dimmed, the smoke started pouring in the venue and the massive background screens lit up, the roar of the crowd was deafening. Joji’s strength as a performer has never been theatrics, elaborate props or choreography. Instead, he succeeds through creating an intimate scene that highlights the emotions in his music. His songs explore loneliness, heartbreak, longing, and self-reflection, themes that resonate deeply with audiences navigating similar emotions. Throughout the night, the singer demonstrated an ability to shift seamlessly between vulnerable ballads and more energetic moments, maintaining an emotional connection with the audience despite the size of the arena.
The setlist reflected the full range of Joji’s catalog while featuring the most songs from “Piss In The Wind” and “Nectar.” The show opened with a bang, with performances of “PIXELATED KISSES,” “Sojourn,” and “Ew,” then continuing with popular fan favourites including “Glimpse of Us,” “Daylight,” and “Like You Do.” After a 25 song setlist featuring some interludes, the concert closed in a powerful rendition of “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK, ” a song that remains one oft he defining works of Joji’s career and one that transformed the Bell Centre into a sea of illuminated phone screens and a shower of confetti.
One of the night’s highlights was when Joji brought out a robot during “Last of a Dying Breed.” The robot danced next to him during the song, which added humour to an otherwise very emotional concert. During the rest of the set, Joji delivered a performance that emphasized emotion over technical perfection. His voice carried a rawness that complemented the themes of the material, particularly during quieter moments. In an era when many arena performers rely heavily on choreography or elaborate staging to maintain audience engagement, Joji’s greatest asset remains his capacity to communicate vulnerability. Other than a few props, such as the robot, a t-shirt cannon and confetti at the end of the set, Joji’s sole “prop” was the large screens behind him. The visuals were very psychedelic, putting the audience in what felt like a trance to fully convey the experience and emotions in the songs he was performing.
The Solaris Tour is not the first time Joji has performed in Montreal. His performance at Osheaga Music Festival in 2019, and in 2022 at MTELUS (a much smaller venue than Centre Bell) largely helped him establish a fanbase in Montreal. Throughout the night, fans sang every lyric, reinforcing the idea that Joji’s music functions as more than entertainment; for many listeners, it serves as a way to cope with deeply personal experiences and as a reminder that they aren’t dealing with these experiences alone.
As the final notes faded and fans slowly made their way toward the exits, many stopping to pick up merch before they left, the atmosphere showed that Montreal had witnessed more than a routine tour stop. Despite Montreal’s show being one of the first stops, the Solaris Tour already proved itself one to be not necessarily polished in the way a usual arena performer’s elaborate set is, but designed perfectly to represent what each song’s meaning calls for. As the tour continues, audiences can expect a production that combines captivating visuals, emotional songwriting, and a performer who continues to redefine expectations the public sets on him. For Montreal fans, the concert on June 20th, 2026 offered a compelling reminder of Joji’s unique ability to transform deeply personal music into a communal experience—one capable of filling an arena while still leaving you feeling like you were the only one in the crowd.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
JOJI
NATE SIB
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Bleachers Bring Big Energy to a Long-Awaited Montreal Return
On June 10th, 2026, fans packed into MTELUS for the Montreal stop of Bleachers’ Bleachers Forever tour. This is the second time the band has had in Montreal, the first being at Osheaga Music and Arts Festival back in 2022, which is the perfect place to build a Montreal fanbase.
Momo Boyd, a New York City based vocalist and songwriter, had no problem setting the tone for the night. With songs like “Cold Hands,” “Strong,” and even a cover of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, her set was filled with enchanting purple lights, beautifully deep lyrics, and captivating vocals. Although her performance was more “low-key” than a typical Bleachers performance, it had its moments of picking up, and was the perfect way to ease the crowd into the night, and left many audience members as a new fan.
As Bleachers took the stage, opening their set with “My Way,” there was no doubt that this would be a night to remember. The band, consisting of lead singer Jack Antonoff, Mikey Freedom Hart, Zem Audu, Mike Riddleberger, Evan Smith and Sean Hutchinson came out to the wonderful sound of saxophone played by band member Zem Audu, and though the first half of the song was slower, the energy built up shortly after through flashing lights, jumps and a roaring crowd.
The audience erupted in cheers and laughter as lead singer, Jack Antonoff spoke out about artists always skipping Montreal during their tours, saying: “They think they can play Osheaga and that’s enough?”, and “What’s with (bands) that think they can play Osheaga, which is like an expensive ticket, and not just come play a normal show.” As me, and many others in that room have traveled to Toronto to see our favourite artists when they skip Montreal on tour, I completely agree with this!
The night continued with back-to-back hits, including “you and forever,” “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call,” and of course, “I Wanna Get Better,” and closing the set with “Stop Making This Hurt.” They even played a cover of Margaret by Lana Del Ray, which they’re featured on!
Bleachers set an incredible standard of engaging a crowd and keeping a consistently high-energy audience. From the first note, to the emotional highs and lows, to the closing goodbyes, fans were cheering, singing and dancing the whole time! They even had a photobooth in the venue where you could take pictures before the show! This is certainly a band that will be in people’s rotation for years to come, so the tour name speaks for itself when it says, Bleachers Forever!
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BLEACHERS
MOMO BOYD
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam