By Austin Price, Editor in Chief
I am fully convinced that Taylor Swift is the ultimate queen of pop music. Taylor Swift is a singer, songwriter, performer, director, artist and entrepreneur. In simple words, Taylor Swift is an icon. Since the start of her career, Taylor Swift has been nominated for over 500 awards and won 324. According to Taylor Swift Fandom, these awards include 10 Grammy Awards, 8 Country Music Awards, 23 American Music Awards, 23 Billboard Music Awards, 10 iHeart Radio Music Awards, and 68 BMI Awards, among others. If those numbers don’t scream success to you, I don’t know what would.
Fans of Taylor Swift are known as “Swifties” and are known for their enthusiastic and unwavering loyalty to Swift. I have immense amounts of respect for Taylor. She is truly one of the most talented, hardworking, courageous, and glorious performers of all time. She’s also a badass in so many ways. To call her a woman of many talents would be the understatement of the century. She is an inspiration in her career and in her personal life.
While Taylor Swift continues to headline in her record-breaking and unbelievable show, The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift fans look to find new ways to celebrate her work with fellow members of the Swift fandom. Luckily, a new experience catering specifically to Swift fans passed through Denver. This experience is officially known as Taylor Fest.
The Taylor Fest logo gleamed in the dark theater. Photo by Austin Price.
According to AXS.com, Taylor Fest is “a party for Swifties, by Swifties. Where everyone is the main character. Come party with us as we dance the night away to all of Taylor Swift's eras”. On Saturday, January 6th, Taylor Fest came to Denver with the ultimate Swiftie experience at the Bluebird Theater. I was lucky to attend this event which I would describe as a club that only plays Taylor Swift and is filled to the brim with Swifties.
Upon arriving at the theater, the line was out the door, and these were the attendees with prepaid tickets. The event was sold out with nearly 600 attendees. However, despite the chilly air and busy clattering of Colfax Street, I immediately felt the atmosphere change upon getting in line. Every single person there was dressed to impress the Swiftie community. Many were decked out in Taylor Swift merchandise, yours truly included, and others were in Taylor Swift costumes, following the different outfits and styles she donned in her different musical eras.
While waiting outside, everyone was joyful. Swifties were trading bracelets, taking photos with one another, complimenting each other’s outfits, and making connections, all within the first 10 minutes of arriving. I don’t know how to adequately describe how electric and inclusive this environment felt. Everyone there was welcome, celebrated, and loved. It’s extraordinary that all this communal love and support was generated by Taylor Swift.
The entire party consisted of Taylor’s music, and only her music. The neon lights matched the lyrics, and the entire theater was Taylor Swift themed. With an overpriced merchandise table, which I admittedly spent way too much money at, and featured drinks that matched Taylor’s lyrics, this small theater became an oasis for Swifties, and the ultimate Taylor Swift party.
The view from the bar at the back of Bluebird Theater as the party started. Photo by Austin Price.
As the group entered the theater, fans were immediately singing. Standing in the entryway, people were singing. At the bar, people were singing. In the line for the bathroom, people were singing. At the merchandise table, people were singing. Everywhere you looked, fans were belting out the lyrics to everyone around. Complete strangers began to sing together. If you were there and singing, you were automatically embraced and loved by the powerhouse fandom.
Fans took the stage by storm as they sang along with Swift. Photo by Austin Price.
The theater was packed with people. Swifties were gathered around the stage, on the balcony, and a small group at a time were allowed to sing on the stage, with the DJ and host of the party. I got the chance to sing onstage towards the end of the night when many people had cleared out, and it was amazing.
I know it sounds childlike and crazy, but I felt like Taylor when belting out the lyrics, off key and full of undeserved confidence. I looked out into the sea of people and could see everyone watching me and singing with me. Now, normally my introverted self would hate this with a passion, but I felt so welcomed and embraced by this group of strangers, as we bonded over the soundtracks to our lives. I watched them when they were on stage, and they watched me when I was on stage. It was a surreal experience that I will never forget.
The view from the stage of the Bluebird Theater. Photo by Austin Price.
I attribute this free spirit, and uncaring and bold attitude of mine to Taylor. Her music tells many stories. Stories that every listener can relate to and sympathize with. Stories that have pulled so many fans out of dark places and gave them a place to bond and love one another, fearlessly and unashamedly.
Taylor Swift is many things. She is strong-willed, determined, clever, kind, courageous, empathetic, selfless, and one of the most influential people of our time. Despite these countless accolades, I think that Taylor’s biggest strength is her ability to connect people. Taylor Fest hosted people of various ages, races, and genders, each with their own memories, experiences, and histories. However, Taylor Swift connected these hundreds of strangers through her art, and that is an ability that few can achieve.