Taylor Takeover: A Look at the Openers on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

There is arguably no artist working today with the broad, spanning appeal of Taylor Swift. She is able to create album-oriented music while individual singles remain tremendously popular on streaming platforms. She has been able to transcend multiple genres with ease throughout her career with seamless ease. Listeners of all generations pour into her shows in purple sequins and flowy dresses. Her accolades read more like a Superman comic than a musician.

With the COVID-19 pandemic upending her touring schedule as she continued to churn out studio albums like Folklore and Midnights, Taylor embarked on her Eras Tour in early 2023. The tour is a massive production, with Taylor taking the stage for a three hour set every night and a setlist spanning her entire musical career, broken up into different "eras" of Taylor, from her country-pop origins to her recent entries into folk-rock. Of course, you can't have a successful tour without a solid opening act, and Taylor certainly has you covered in that regard.

To match the epic nature of the Eras Tour, Taylor has enlisted a variety of incredibly accomplished musicians to join her on stage. To celebrate the upcoming release of Speak Now (Taylor's Version), we decided to take a look at some of the best opening acts on the Eras Tour, and a vinyl record to go along with them. 

Riot! (2007) — Paramore

To kick off the Eras Tour's first show in Glendale, AZ, Taylor tapped pop-punk legends Paramore. Taylor's millennial cohort will recall Hayley Williams and Paramore bursting onto the scene in the mid-aughts with their aggressive sound and energetic stage presence. Paramore is at their best on Riot!, featuring the group's signature song, "Misery Business." Paramore performed at just one show on the Eras Tour, but they served as a memorable opener and an exclusive treat for the fans who helped get the party started. 

A Study of the Human Experience (2022) — Gayle

Remember what we said about cross-generational appeal? Taylor followed up the firmly millennial Paramore with Gayle, who rose to prominence on Tik-Tok with "ABCDEFU." Gayle compiled a number of her popular singles into a series of EPs, featuring the aforementioned hit, as well as tracks like "kiddie pool" and "snow angels," a neat, compact look at gen-Z teenage angst. 

Beatopia (2022) — Beabadobee

Beabadobee made her presence known partially due to her prolific release schedule, dropping five EPs in a three year period in anticipation of her first full-length album. Beatopia, her second full-length effort, is a fun time portal to the early 2010s twee era. Breathy vocals and fuzzy, distorted guitars show off Beatrice Laus' indie influences, combining with poppy stylings to create a record that teeters on the edge of both genres. 

Muna (2022) — Muna

Muna has been a fun band to follow, releasing a pair of solid albums before really finding their sound with their self-titled third release. Having firmly found their niche in the indie-rock revival movement currently experiencing a heyday, Muna remains true to the genre's core tenets while experimenting with other forms of music. Muna plays with genre, with each song veering in a wildly different direction than the last while remaining a cohesive package. Midwest emo, as it turns out, mixes nicely with bubblegum pop, as does the pairing of synth-pop and glam rock. 

Good Riddance (2023) — Gracie Abrams

Gracie Abrams' burgeoning career can largely be defined by one word; honesty. Abrams is an open book, with her debut album serving as a narration of the end of a relationship and her innermost feelings, inviting listeners into her private place. Abrams wears her heart and opinions on her sleeves, unafraid to wade into politics and activism and doing it with restrained emotional power. Good Riddance is an interesting debut in that it also works as something of a farewell to the person Abrams was, but introduces us to who she is now. 

Stranger in the Alps (2017)— Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers may be the most electrifying songwriter working in music today. Her ability to tug at your heartstrings and put words to our deepest thoughts about the very nature of human relationships is unparalleled. Stranger in the Alps is Bridgers' debut album, featuring some of her best work in "Motion Sickness," a chilling recount of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Ryan Adams. Bridgers has gone on to dominate the world of indie-rock, both as a solo artist and as one-third supergroup boygenius.

Luv (2023) — Owenn

Opening for Taylor Swift at MetLife Stadium is some way to make your musical debut. Owenn and Taylor go way back, with the former serving as one of her backup dancers during the Reputation tour. After dropping singles like "Baby Girl" and "Show Me," Taylor chose Owenn to open up several of her Eras shows. On his debut EP, Luv, Owenn shows the poise of a veteran performer, so his ability to command the stage in front of thousands of fans is no surprise.

If I Could Make It Go Quiet (2021) — Girl in Red

Girl in Red's Marie Ulvens has cited Taylor Swift as one of her biggest musical influences, so a selection to play on the Eras Tour seemed to always be in the cards. Ulvens explores the depths of her mental health, a look at relationships, and a celebration of queerness on her debut release. Ulvens experiments with the traditional music of her native Norway, weaving it into her songwriting; the lead track, "Serotonin," evoking a sort of early 2000s nostalgia. 

Women in Music Pt. III (2020) — HAIM

Sisters Danielle, Este, and Alana make up HAIM, a band whose live shows have become something of legend. All three sisters are accomplished musicians and vocalists (and in Alana's case, actresses), and Women in Music Pt. III is an instant soft rock classic. Their upbeat, poppy vocals would feel at home on a late '70s California beach, while they make use of electronic and even hip-hop beats to accompany. Live, however, HAIM is a raucous rock act, sure to ignite the crowd when they start their leg as Taylor's opener in August. 

Emails I Can't Send (2022) — Sabrina Carpenter

When Taylor begins the Latin America leg of the Eras Tour in August, Sabrina Carpenter will be right there with her. Beginning her career as an actress, Carpenter soon began to dabble in music, releasing her first album in 2015. Emails I Can't Send, her fifth record, is a love letter to 1990s pop-rock and her most mature work yet. Carpenter shed the former Disney star sound on Emails, and used the aptly named "Skinny Dipping" to show fans more vulnerability than ever before.