Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ UK tour; remembering Taylor Swift’s first UK show - a London student union 16 years ago

Well, it’s finally happened - Taylor Swift has revealed that she will be performing in the UK as part of a number of international tour dates announced yesterday evening, with Swifties now patiently waiting a registration process to find out if they have a chance to buy tickets the day they go on sale, or if they have to wait in line. That’s right, it’s a ballot system to see Taylor Swift at Anfield in Liverpool or Wembley in London.

That’s a far cry from where Taylor Swift performed 16 years ago, though; the student union at King’s College in London in what would be her first ever performance in the United Kingdom.  In the fall of 2008, the talented young songstress embarked on a promotional tour for her critically acclaimed album ‘Fearless,’ and among her various stops, one memorable event took place at the London King's College Student Union on October 20, 2008. 

The show, held in the cosy confines of the student union, created an intimate atmosphere that perfectly complemented Taylor Swift's soulful tunes. With stripped-down arrangements and her signature guitar in hand, Swift effortlessly captivated the audience with her infectious charm and emotional delivery. 

This performance at the London King's College Student Union allowed fans to witness a rising star in a close-knit setting, where they could truly connect with the raw emotion and authenticity of Swift's music. It would be the beginning of the often championed engagement that Taylor Swift has with her fans, even to this day despite trading in student unions for stadiums.

But why read about it? One YouTuber posted some fan-cam clips of her performance at London’s King College Student Union which you can still stream on the platform from 14 years ago; so hat tip to h2omark1 for continuing to keep this performance alive.

What did Taylor Swift play during her first UK performance in 2008?

According to Setlist.FM, Swift’s set at London King’s College Student Union was mainly tracks from her album at the time, ‘Fearless,’ though she also performed a cover of Amy Winehouse at the intimate setting.

‘‘Love Story,’ which continues to be a fixture throughout Taylor’s live performances, was also performed for the first time in the UK during this one-off show

• Our Song
• Love Story
• Should've Said No
• Change
• Rehab (Amy Winehouse cover)
• Teardrops on My Guitar
• Fearless

How can I register for pre-sale tickets for Taylor Swift's UK ‘Era’s’ tour dates?

Registration is now open. Fans can register on each city’s official ticket registration page on Taylor Swift's website until Thursday June 22 at 11.59pm (local time) in the UK, and on Friday June 23 at 11.59pm (local time) in Ireland and Europe.

Registered fans who receive a unique code will have first access to purchase tickets in each city on the specified on-sale dates and times. Fans who want an opportunity to access ticket on-sales in multiple cities should register once for each city they would like to attend.

Fans who participated in the Taylor Swift UK store Midnights album pre-order offer will also qualify for special pre-sale access to all UK and Ireland shows and will be officially communicated with via the email supplied at checkout. Those pre-sales start:

• Monday July 10 -10am, London
• Tuesday July 11, 10am - Edinburgh and Dublin
• Wednesday July 12, 10am - Cardiff and Liverpool