Taylor Swift is heading out on her Eras tour in 2023, playing stadiums across the United States. As one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Swift always brings along impressive opening acts to kick off her shows. For the Eras tour, Swift has selected some of music’s hottest rising stars and fan favorites to set the stage for her hits-filled headlining performances.
Why Openers Are Important for Taylor Swift’s Tour
While fans are undoubtedly excited to see Swift herself live, the opening acts she chooses can provide an important warm-up for the crowd. The openers help get the audience energized and ready for a night of singing and dancing along to Swift’s catchy catalog of songs.
Openers also allow concertgoers to discover new music and new artists. Some of Swift’s openers may not be household names yet, so her tour provides a massive platform for these acts to gain new fans. It’s a win-win – the openers get exposure, and the crowd gets entertained by fresh, emerging talents.
Finally, Swift’s openers reflect her own musical tastes and friendships within the industry. She often selects openers that she is a personal fan of or who she is close with. Her opener choices give fans insight into Swift as an artist and music lover herself.
Who Is Opening for Taylor Swift in Different Cities
Swift has not officially announced her full lineup of openers for the entire Eras tour. However, she has revealed some of the artists joining her on select dates so far. Here’s a rundown of who fans can expect to see as openers in different cities on the tour:
Phoenix
At Swift’s two launch shows in Phoenix on March 17 and 18, indie pop band Muna will open the show. The band is signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records and is known for upbeat synth melodies and deeply personal lyrics. Swift is a fan of the group and featured Muna on a remix of their song “You” in 2021.
Las Vegas
For Swift’s run of shows in Las Vegas from March 24 through April 1, the opening acts are Gracie Abrams on March 24, 25, and 29, and GAYLE on March 31 and April 1. Abrams, daughter of director J.J. Abrams, is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter who tours with Olivia Rodrigo. Meanwhile, GAYLE is a breakout star known for the hit “abcdefu.” Swift hand-picked both buzzy artists to join these Vegas shows.
Arlington
At the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on April 22 and 23, Swift has tapped a legendary opener – Paramore. The pop punk group reunited in 2022 after a brief hiatus and is poised to draw in their own devoted following to pack the stadium early.
Tampa
For Swift’s two nights at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on April 29 and 30, rising country singer Brittney Spencer will open. Given Swift’s own country music roots, Spencer is a fitting choice with her raw, vulnerable songwriting style and Southern twang.
Philadelphia
At Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on May 12 and 13, Swift again goes in a country direction with the duo Maddie & Tae. Best known for their 2014 hit “Girl in a Country Song,” Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr have earned praise for bringing fresh energy to the country genre.
Nashville
Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on May 20 will see Swift joined by a major girl group powerhouse – the reunited The Chicks. Comprised of Martie Maguire, Emily Strayer, and Natalie Maines, The Chicks have won countless Grammys and carved a bold path in country music. Their appearance is sure to thrill Nashville, where the group got their start.
On May 21 at Nissan Stadium, indie folk singer Phoebe Bridgers will open. Bridgers toured with Swift on her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018. The two artists have become close friends and collaborators since, making Bridgers a fitting opener choice.
Los Angeles
At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on May 26 and 27, Swift taps fellow pop superstar Haim to open. The trio of sisters – Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim – have long been friends with Swift and even collaborated on a remix of Swift’s song “no body, no crime” in 2021. With radio hits like “The Wire” and “Want You Back,” Haim is sure to get the LA crowd primed as their tourmates.
Seattle
Swift heads to Lumen Field in Seattle on July 22 with indie singer-songwriter Conan Gray opening. Gray went viral online before landing a record deal and is known for blending pop and folk on songs like “Heather” and “Jigsaw.” His debut album Kid Krow reached #5 on the Billboard charts in 2020.
Denver
On July 29 and 30 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Swift tapped two openers. Gayle will return to open on July 29, along with singer Gracie Abrams. Then on July 30, Abrams will perform along with singer-songwriter Owenn.
Atlanta
At the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 4 and 5, Atlanta-raised R&B/hip-hop duo EarthGang will open the show. The duo is signed to Dreamville Records, which was founded by rapper J. Cole, indicating Swift’s appreciation for hip-hop talent.
Other Cities
While Swift has not yet announced all her openers for the remaining 30+ shows on the Eras tour, she is likely to draw from a pool of burgeoning talents across genres. Some possibilities include American Authors, Ingrid Andress, Griff, Maisie Peters, and Jensen McRae. Fans can likely expect her to continue highlighting fresh, diverse voices in music.
Why Taylor Swift Chooses Up-and-Coming Openers
While Swift certainly could pick just about any major artist to open her shows, she often opts for lesser-known, rising talents. There are a few key reasons Swift tends to give these types of artists the opening slots:
She Enjoys Mentoring Young Artists
As an artist who found fame and success at a young age, Swift understands the challenges of being a young musician. She has spoken about enjoying mentoring and nurturing new talents in the industry. Providing an invaluable opening slot is one way she gives a career boost to up-and-comers.
She Likes Exposing Fans to New Music
Swift pride herself on constantly evolving her sound and pushing boundaries. Similarly, she appreciates introducing her fans to music they may not hear otherwise. Using her platform to showcase indie artists or those in different genres allows concertgoers to discover new favorite acts.
She Connects Personally with Lesser-Known Artists
While she is now one of the world’s biggest stars, Swift had humble beginnings as a young country singer trying to break through in the industry. She relates deeply to artists who are still trying to make a name for themselves. Opening for Swift provides much-needed exposure that can greatly help up-and-coming talents in their careers.
She Can Take Risks on Newbies
With Swift already being the main event, she has some leeway to take risks with her opener choices. If she opens with acts that end up not resonating with the crowd or are still working on their live performance chops, it’s not a huge deal. The headliner show will get raves regardless. So Swift can give chances to unproven talents as openers.
Notable Opening Acts from Past Taylor Swift Tours
While Swift often taps rising talents as openers, she has also invited some more well-established artists to open her tours over the years. Here’s a look back at some of the most notable openers from her previous concert treks:
| Tour | Notable Openers |
|---|---|
| Fearless Tour | Kellie Pickler, Gloriana, Justin Bieber |
| Speak Now Tour | Needtobreathe, Danny Gokey, Frankie Ballard |
| Red Tour | Ed Sheeran, Joel Crouse, Brett Eldredge |
| 1989 Tour | Vance Joy, Shawn Mendes, HAIM |
| Reputation Tour | Camila Cabello, Charli XCX, Phoebe Bridgers |
As these tours demonstrate, even when Swift taps more recognizable supporting acts, she still tends to choose rising talents who can benefit greatly from exposure to her fanbase. Names like Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, and HAIM were not global superstars yet when they played these opening slots early on.
Why Fans Are Excited About the Eras Tour Openers
While the full lineup remains a mystery, Swift’s fans have expressed enthusiasm about the openers revealed so far for the Eras tour. Here are a few reasons the chosen acts have fans hyped up:
The Openers Represent Diverse Genres
From country (Maddie & Tae) to pop punk (Paramore) to R&B (EarthGang), the openers showcase a wide range of musical styles. Fans are excited to experience this diversity of genres ahead of Swift’s own genre-spanning headlining set.
Nostalgic Reunions Are Happening
Both The Chicks and Paramore have gotten back together specifically for this tour after time apart. Fans cannot wait to see the reunited acts take the stage again.
Up-and-Comers Are Getting Their Big Break
Lesser-known artists like Gracie Abrams, Conan Gray, and Brittney Spencer are poised to gain legions of new fans from the massive exposure of opening for Swift. Fans love seeing these rising talents get the chance to play for crowds of 65,000+ people each night.
Friends Are Supporting Friends
Fans find it heartwarming to see Swift provide a huge opportunity to friends like Haim and Phoebe Bridgers. It demonstrates the supportive community Swift has built within the music industry.
The Pairings Complement Swift Perfectly
The chosen openers all share an aesthetic, sensibility, or set of themes that gel well with Swift’s own artistry. Fans appreciate how the openers chosen represent Swift’s tastes and complement her headlining sets.
Conclusion
While Taylor Swift always brings the hits and puts on an incredible headlining show, fans know the openers are an important part of the concert experience too. Swift has already hand-picked an exciting collection of emerging talents, fan favorites, and friends to kick things off on the Eras tour dates announced so far. Fans can likely expect her to continue to spotlight fresh voices that pair well with Swift’s musical outlook when she announces the remaining openers. The opening acts help set the tone for each stop of Swift’s journey through the musical eras that define her career so far. Who else she will invite along for the ride remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – it will provide the next generation of artists with a career-boosting opportunity they’ll never forget.