Taylor Swift fans left devastated by the cancellation of the Austrian leg of the sold-out Eras Tour have been gathering in Vienna today to sing the star’s hits together.
Many have been comforting one another after the shocking news emerged last night that police had foiled an Islamist terror attack on the shows, with the Austrian chancellor saying today that ‘a tragedy was prevented’.
Fans have expressed their gratitude that they are safe and their understanding about why the concert was cancelled. But many had travelled from across Europe and were left thousands out of pocket after forking out to attend.
Disappointed Swifties have now vowed to ‘shake it off’ – a nod to the American singer’s 2014 track – with defiant fans taking to the streets of the Austrian capital to make the most of things.
Pictures shows scores of fans wearing their elaborate concert outfits and friendship bracelets meeting and dancing in the city, while Swift-themed events have also been put on at clubs and other venues to try to make up for the cancellation.
Fans of US singer Taylor Swift – swifties – stand and sing around the Swiftie Tree in Cornelius Strasse street in Vienna
A fan of US singer Taylor Swift – a Swiftie – proudly presents her many friendship bracelets
A fan of Taylor Swift fixes her beaded bracelets at the Swiftie Tree in Cornelius Strasse street
Fans will likely be heartened after a statement emerged from a source close to Swift saying she hopes to return to Vienna ‘as soon as possible in the future’
While fans described themselves as ‘sad Swifties’ and said they had been left ‘heartbroken’ by the they also said they understood authorities’ decision to call off the shows.Â
Thousands gathered around Stephansplatz, the city’s central square, with people seen strumming guitars and singing along to Swift’s music.
Crowds of fans gathered in Cornelius Strasse street, meeting around a tree which has become known as the ‘Swiftie tree’.
The tree became a sort of shrine as Swifties tied their friendship bracelets – which have become a must-have at the star’s concerts – onto its branches.Â
Many were still smiling and proudly wearing their outfits – which are often linked to Swift’s songs – out and about in the Austrian capital.
Fans will likely be heartened after a statement emerged from a source close to Swift saying she hopes to return to Vienna ‘as soon as possible in the future’.
‘She is very conscious of how disappointed her fans in Austria are,’ the insider told The Mirror.
But as news broke of the cancellation last night, Swifties took to social media to express their upset, lamenting months of preparation for the performance.
Many spent thousands of euros on travel, hotels and food in one of the most expensive European capitals.
Swifties trade bracelets in the city centre in Vienna
Fans were still smiling today and wearing their concert outfits despite the shows being cancelled
Swift fan Jenny, who is from Vienna, trades bracelets in the city centre
Many spent thousands of euros on travel, hotels and food in one of the most expensive European capitals
Fans of US singer Taylor Swift – swifties – fix their beaded bracelets at the Swiftie Tree in Cornelius Strasse street in Vienna
One mother said: ‘I’m shocked and at the same time glad that they found out. We would have been there tomorrow. My little daughter is crying so bitterly.’Â
Annmarie Timmins, a journalist who traveled from the United States for Thursday’s show, said she and her husband were waiting for the subway after dinner when they heard the news.
‘I can’t even believe it,’ she said. ‘There was a girl with her mom who looked so sad – even more than me. I gave her one of my bracelets. I wanted to hug her.’
For Fredrikke Blekastad, a Swift fan from Norway, it was the second time she tried to attend a concert. The first time, it was canceled because of the pandemic.
‘We had planned to get up really early, stand in line and get to the very front and see her,’ Blekastad told Norwegian broadcaster NRK, but ‘nothing will come of it either.’
Other Norwegian fans, Jenny Moltubakk and Marie Hov Aanæs, told NRK about their disappointment.
Taylor Swift fans ‘shake it off’ in the streets of Vienna after the concert is cancelled
Swifties trade bracelets in the city centre in Vienna
Fans were seen strumming guitars and singing along together
‘At first we were in shock when we saw the message, I didn’t really believe it,’ Moltubakk told the broadcaster. ‘It’s very strange when something you’ve been looking forward to for a whole year is suddenly canceled.’
‘I am very disappointed, to be honest, but I understand that safety is the most important thing,’ she added.
Aanæs said that ‘we must ‘Shake It Off,’… Actually, we are just very grateful that security was tightened enough for them to unravel this,’ Aanæs told NRK.
Meanwhile Vienna’s U4 club says it is offering free entry to all ticket-holders, saying in a post on Instagram: ‘This is really s***** for many people, whether they are visitors who have been looking forward to it for ages or for everyone who worked for the event.’
Vienna’s U4 club says it is offering free entry to all ticket-holders
The club said that while it didn’t make up for the disappointment, it would be allowing everyone with a proof of ticket purchase to get free entry on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Swiftie Nights Vienna – which was running pre-show and after parties for the concerts – said it had immediately checked with police if it was still safe to run their planned events after news emerged last night.Â
It said in a statement on X that local police and security services advised them that it would be safe to go ahead with the scheduled events and that there would be increased patrols of the area.Â
‘We know all too well that our community is in shock and seeking opportunities to be together at this time and are grateful we have had this event planned that will make that possible,’ organisers said, reassuring: ‘We will be taking extra security measures to ensure the safety of of every attendee.’