Taylor Swift receives flowers from U2 ahead of ‘Eras’ show in Ireland

28 June, 2024

Bono and Taylor Swift. Credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images and Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

U2 have sent Taylor Swift a bouquet of flowers to welcome her to Ireland for her upcoming ‘Eras’ tour shows.

In an Instagram story, Swift revealed the band had sent the flowers alongside a note that read: “Welcome back to our hometown… leave some of it standing?!!!!” The card was signed by her “fan club” — Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.

Swift shared the gesture on her story, writing: “Already feeling that Irish hospitality!! @U2 thanks for always being the classiest & the coolest.”

 

Tonight (July 28) marks the first of three consecutive shows Swift will play in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

The ‘Eras’ tour touched down in London last week, bringing with it a star-studded audience. Attendees included Hugh Grant, Prince William, Salma Hayak, Cate Blanchett, Tom Cruise, Liam Hemsworth and many more.

However, the tour hasn’t come without controversy. Earlier this week Dave Grohl, who was also performing in London with Foo Fighters, appeared to call Swift out for not performing live.

While on stage at London Stadium on Saturday (June 22), Grohl pointed out that Swift was having her own concert down the road at Wembley. After a chorus of boos from fans, Grohl told the audience: “I tell you, man, you don’t want to suffer the wrath of Taylor Swift. So we like to call our tour the ‘Errors Tour.’”

He added: “We’ve had more than a few eras, and more than a few fucking errors as well. Just a couple. That’s because we actually play live. What? Just saying. You guys like raw, live rock ‘n’ roll music, right? You came to the right fucking place.”

Swift seemed to indirectly respond to the quip the following night, thanking her band by saying: “Every one of my band members, every single one of our crew, my band who’s gonna be playing live for you for 3.5 hours tonight, they deserve this so much. And so does every one of my fellow performers. And you just gave that to us so generously, we will never forget it.”

Swift was also the target of a publicity stunt by climate activism group Just Stop Oil, who appeared to break into London Stansted Airport’s private airfield before allegedly spraying her private jet with orange paint. The move was part of a bid to raise awareness of climate change. Two individuals have since been arrested.

So far, the ‘Eras’ tour has proven to be an economy-boosting phenomenon for each city that’s hosted the colossal three-hour show. The London gigs alone are expected to have contributed over £300 million to the local economy, with The Greater London Authority (GLA) estimating that fans will spend an average of £471 per show, due to many travelling from further afield to see Swift.

After leaving Dublin, Swift is set to make a two-night stop in Zurich, Switzerland, before touring Italy, Germany, Poland and Austria. She’s then set to return to London to close the European leg of the ‘Eras’ tour, before heading to Canada, where she’ll be supported by Gracie Abrams.

NME were at the first UK show of the ‘Eras’ tour, which took place at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on June 7, giving the show a glowing five-star review.

Hannah Mylrea wrote: “Each era is a distinct chapter. The aforementioned visuals (which are aided by distinct colour palettes) are accompanied by wardrobes of (rapidly changed, often brilliantly bespangled) costumes for Swift and her dancers, and – of course – the differing musical worlds.

“In the live setting the synth-led sound of ‘Reputation’ is rocked up, Swift’s guitarists (she’s joined on-stage by a slick six-piece band, and four backing vocalists) shredding exuberantly. In fact, ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ has never sounded better.”

She continued: “At the centre of it all is Swift herself, guiding the audience through the hit-stacked show era to era. The ringleader of the entire Eras Tour shepherds us through with razor precision, an utter pro who’s energy doesn’t waiver throughout.

“And even among the meticulously rehearsed and choreographed performance which runs like clockwork, she finds pockets of humour and moments to connect with the crowd.”

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