I Went To A Sofar Sounds Secret Concert — Here’s Why It’s The Perfect Father's Day Gift Idea

sofar sounds father's day gift

My first Sofar Sounds show in Chicago in 2015 was pretty special. I think I signed up a few weeks in advance and didn't know what kind of music I would hear and other than the neighborhood. Heck, I don't think I got the location until hours before the show. I arrived at an art gallery in the Pilsen neighborhood and cozied up on the floor with 50-60 others and thoroughly enjoyed several different acts over the course of the next few hours.

With Father's Day right around the corner, I wondered what kind of unique experience I'd want for my first Father's Day as a new dad, and the gift of a local concert or arts experience immediately came to mind. I've been to a ton of shows over the years and house concerts are by far my favorite way to explore new music.

I know many of you might be looking for a unique and unforgettable gift for your music-loving dad, and I'd like to strongly encourage you to consider gifting a Sofar Sounds experience. Imagine surprising the dad(s) in your life with a secret music concert where they can experience new artists up close and personal. Get ready for a special way to celebrate Father's Day and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Picture This...

Image via Sofar Sounds

Your dad walks into a hidden venue, unaware of the experience about to unfold. The air is filled with anticipation as he steps into a carefully curated space transformed into an intimate concert hall. No crowds, no distractions — just an exclusive performance designed for a small group.

The Magic of Secret Music Concerts

Image via Sofar Sounds

There's something enchanting about the secrecy and intimacy of a secret music concert. Unlike traditional concerts, these events take place in unique and often unconventional spaces, adding an element of surprise and exclusivity. From hidden rooftop gardens to cozy living rooms, secret music concerts create an atmosphere where the audience feels intimately connected to the music and the artists.

The Rise of Sofar Sounds

Image via Sofar Sounds

One organization that has gained significant popularity in curating secret music concerts is Sofar Sounds. They started in 2010 as a small gathering of friends in London, and it has now grown into a global community hosting secret concerts in over 400 cities worldwide. The organization focuses on creating intimate experiences where artists can showcase their talent and music enthusiasts can discover new sounds. Looking to get a taste of what you might experience? Check out this video playlist of some amazing past Sofar Sounds live performances.

How It Works

Image via Sofar Sounds

When you gift a secret music concert experience through Sofar Sounds, you're giving a chance to be a part of something truly unique. The process is simple: you purchase a ticket for the event without knowing the exact lineup or location. This element of surprise adds an extra layer of excitement, as your recipient won't know what to expect until they arrive at the secret venue. These events often feature a mix of established artists, rising stars, and hidden gems, ensuring a diverse and captivating musical experience.

Intimate and Unconventional Venues

Image via Sofar Sounds

One of the highlights of secret music concerts is the opportunity to discover incredible venues that aren't typically associated with live music performances. From art galleries to private lofts, these hidden spaces are transformed into intimate concert halls, providing a truly immersive experience for both the artists and the audience. Your dad will have the chance to witness his favorite musicians in a setting unlike anything he has experienced before.

Connecting with the Music and Artists

Image via Sofar Sounds

Secret music concerts foster a unique connection between the audience and the artists. With smaller crowds and a more intimate setting, your dad will have the opportunity to interact with the performers, hear their stories, and gain a deeper appreciation for their craft. It's a chance to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow music enthusiasts and create lasting memories.

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Image via Sofar Sounds

What makes gifting a secret music concert experience even more special is that it's not just a one-time event. By attending a Sofar Sounds concert, your dad becomes part of a vibrant community of music lovers who share a passion for discovering new artists and supporting the local music scene. Sofar Sounds hosts events regularly, so your dad can continue attending these unique concerts long after Father's Day.

So...We'll See You There, Right?!

Image via Sofar Sounds

This Father's Day, surprise your dad with an extraordinary gift that transcends the traditional. By gifting a secret music concert experience like a Sofar Sounds concert or really any local music, theatre, or arts experience, you'll provide him with an opportunity to immerse himself in the magic of live performances in unique, intimate, and local spaces. It's a chance to create unforgettable memories, connect with artists on a personal level, and be part of a vibrant community of music enthusiasts.

FYI, I can personally vouch for Sofar Sounds, but Brit + Co may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links — you can thank us later!

For more Father's Day recommendations, sign up for our email newsletter!

Images via Sofar Sounds

From announcing her tenth album Midnights during an acceptance speech to breaking ticket-selling records to gearing up for her feature film directorial debut, Taylor Swift continues to surprise us. And that includes her Eras Tour, which kicked off in Glendale, Arizona on March 17.

At one of her Texas shows, she surprised the audience by swapping a song on the setlist for something she had never performed live. "You think you can just go online, you think you can just scroll and know the setlist, you think you can just come prepared," she said onstage. "Let it be said about the Eras Tour: we're tricksy."

In addition to her self-proclaimed "setlist hi-jinx," every night of the tour will see two surprise songs. That is, until Taylor started doing mash-ups, which means the surprise song segment can have as many songs as she wants! She did something totally new in Sydney, Australia and played mash-ups every single night.

All in all, even if your favorite song didn't make the original setlist, you might still get to hear it (even if you're streaming the concert on TikTok). While we wait for The Tortured Poets Department — and maybe Reputation (Taylor's Version) — here's everything she's played on the tour.

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Surprise Songs For 2024

Image via Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

  • Tokyo, Japan on February 7: "Dear Reader" and "Holy Ground"
  • Tokyo, Japan on February 8: "Eyes Open" and "Electric Touch"
  • Tokyo, Japan on February 9: "Superman" and "The Outside"
  • Melbourne, Australia on February 16: "Red" and "You're Losing Me"
  • Melbourne, Australia on February 17: "Getaway Car" & "August" & "Other Side Of The Door" mash-up and "This Is Me Trying"
  • Melbourne, Australia on February 18: "Come Back, Be Here" & "Daylight" mash-up and "Teardrops On My Guitar"
  • Sydney, Australia on February 23: "How You Get The Girl" and "White Horse" & "Coney Island" mash-up with Sabrina Carpenter
  • Sydney, Australia on February 24: "Should've Said No" & "You're Not Sorry" mash-up and "New Year's Day" & "Peace" mash-up
  • Sydney, Australia on February 25: "Is It Over Now?" & "I Wish You Would" mash-up and "Haunted" & "Exile" mash-up
  • Sydney, Australia on February 26: "Would've, Could've, Should've" & "Ivy" mash-up and "Forever & Always" & "Maroon" mash-up
  • Singapore on March 2: "Mine" & "Starlight" mash-up and "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" & "Dress" mash-up
  • Singapore on March 3: "Long Story Short" & "The Story Of Us" mash-up and Clean" & "Evermore" mash-up
  • Singapore on March 4: "Foolish One" & "Tell Me Why" mash-up and "This Love" & "Call It What You Want" mash-up
  • Singapore on March 7: "Death By A Thousand Cuts" & "Babe" mash-up and "Fifteen" & "You're On Your Own, Kid" mash-up
  • Singapore on March 8: "Sparks Fly" & "Gold Rush" mash-up and "False God" & "Slut!" mash-up
  • Paris on May 9: "Paris" and "loml"

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Surprise Songs For 2023

Image via Kristina Kung

Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket with rainbow star confetti.

  • Glendale, AZ on March 17: "mirrorball" and "Tim McGraw"
  • Glendale, AZ on March 18: "State of Grace" and "this is me trying"
  • Las Vegas, NV on March 24: "Our Song" and "Snow on the Beach"
  • Las Vegas, NV on March 25: "cowboy like me" with Marcus Mumford and "White Horse"
  • Arlington, TX on March 31: "Sad Beautiful Tragic" and "Ours"
  • Arlington, TX on April 1: "Death By A Thousand Cuts" and "Clean"
  • Arlington, TX on April 2: "Jump Then Fall" and "The Lucky One"
  • Tampa, FL on April 13: "Speak Now" and "Treacherous"
  • Tampa, FL on April 14: "The Great War" with Aaron Dessner and "You're On Your Own, Kid"
  • Tampa, FL on April 15: "mad woman" with Aaron Dessner and "Mean"
  • Houston, TX on April 21: "Wonderland" and "You're Not Sorry"
  • Houston, TX on April 22: "A Place In This World" and "Today Was A Fairytale"
  • Houston, TX on April 23: "Begin Again" and "Cold As You"
  • Atlanta, GA on April 28: "The Other Side Of The Door" and "Coney Island"
  • Atlanta, GA on April 29: "High Infidelity" and "Gorgeous"
  • Atlanta, GA on April 30: "I Bet You Think About Me" and "How You Get The Girl"
  • Nashville, TN on May 5: "Sparks Fly" and "Teardrops On My Guitar"
  • Nashville, TN on May 6: "Out of the Woods" and "Fifteen"
  • Nashville, TN on May 7: "Would've Could've Should've" with Aaron Dessner and "Mine"
  • Philadelphia, PA on May 12: "gold rush" and 'Come Back... Be Here'
  • Philadelphia, PA on May 13: "Forever & Always" and "This Love"
  • Philadelphia, PA on May 14: "Hey Stephen" and "The Best Day"

Image via Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

  • Foxborough, MA on May 19: "Should've Said No" and "Better Man"
  • Foxborough, MA on May 20: "Question...?" and "Invisible"
  • Foxborough, MA on May 21: "I Think He Knows" and "Red"
  • East Rutherford, NJ on May 26: "Getaway Car" with Jack Antanoff and "Maroon"
  • East Rutherford, NJ on May 27: "Holy Ground" and "False God"
  • East Rutherford, NJ on May 28: "Clean" and "Welcome to New York"
  • Chicago, IL on June 2: "I Wish You Would" and "the lakes"
  • Chicago, IL on June 3: "You All Over Me" with Maren Morris and "I Don't Wanna Live Forever"
  • Chicago, IL on June 4: "Hits Different" and "The Moment I Knew"
  • Detroit, MI on June 9: “Haunted” and “I Almost Do”
  • Detroit, MI on June 10: “All You Had to Do Was Stay” and “Breathe”
  • Pittsburgh, PA on June 16: “Mr. Perfectly Fine” and “The Last Time”
  • Pittsburgh, PA on June 17: “Seven” with Aaron Dessner and “The Story of Us”
  • Minneapolis, MN on June 23: “Paper Rings” and “If This Was a Movie”
  • Minneapolis, MN on June 24: “Dear John” and “Daylight”
  • Cincinnati, OH on June 30: “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” and “Evermore”
  • Cincinnati, OH on July 1: “Ivy” with Aaron Dessner, “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” with Gracie Abrams, and “Call It What You Want”
  • Kansas City, MO on July 7: “Never Grow Up” and “When Emma Falls in Love”
  • Kansas City, MO on July 8: “Last Kiss” and “Dorothea”
  • Denver, CO on July 14: “Picture to Burn” and “Timeless”
  • Denver, CO on July 15: “Starlight” and “Back to December”

Image via Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

  • Seattle, WA on July 22: “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” and “Everything Has Changed”
  • Seattle, WA on July 23: “Message in a Bottle” and “Tied Together With a Smile”
  • Santa Clara, CA on July 28: “Right Where You Left Me” and “Castles Crumbling”
  • Santa Clara, CA on July 29: “Stay Stay Stay” and “All of the Girls You Loved Before”
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 3: "I Can See You" and "Maroon"
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 4: "Our Song" and "You Are In Love"
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 5: "Death by a Thousand Cuts" and "You're On Your Own, Kid"
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 7: "Dress" and "Exile"
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 8: "I Know Places" and "King Of My Heart"
  • Los Angeles, CA on Aug. 9: "New Romantics" and "New Year's Day"
  • Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 24: "I Forgot That You Existed" and "Sweet Nothing"
  • Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 25: "Tell Me Why" and "Snow On The Beach"
  • Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 26: "Cornelia Street" and "You're On Your Own, Kid"
  • Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 27: "Afterglow" and "Maroon"
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 9: "The Very First Night" and "Labyrinth"
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 11: "Is It Over Now?" & "Out Of The Woods" mash-up and "End Game"
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 12: "Better Than Revenge" and “Slut!”
  • Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 17: "Stay Beautiful" and "Suburban Legends"
  • Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 19: "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" and "Bigger Than The Whole Sky"
  • Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 20: "Me!" and "So It Goes..."

Does anyone sing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour surprise songs with her?

Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Taylor Swift will occasionally bring out her opener to sing the surprise songs with her, like she did with Sabrina Carpenter in Sydney, Australia! After crazy weather preventer Sabrina from performing her set at the beginning of the concert, Taylor brought her out for a medley of "White Horse" from Fearless (Taylor's Version) and "Coney Island" from Evermore.

How does Taylor Swift choose surprise songs?

Image via Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

It seems that Taylor Swift's surprise song choices are somewhat last minute and based on what she wants to play, but we're thinking that two of her songs from Houston are more than meets the eye — er, more than meets the ear?

Twitter users recently brought up Speak Now (Taylor's Version) when images of Taylor filming in Liverpool went viral. The other two people in the photos appear to be Joey King and Taylor Lautner, who both played a role in the original Speak Now: Joey King was featured in the "Mean" music video and Taylor Lautner is the subject of

And we're talking about Speak Now (Taylor's Version) again after the April 22 concert because of her surprise songs. After all, "A Place In This World" (which is featured in Joey King's Ramona and Beezus) and "Today Was A Fairytale" (which is a part of Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner's Valentine's Day) feels very intentional. Turns out, we were right because she brought Joey and Taylor onstage during the Speak Now (Taylor's Version) launch party to premiere the music video!

In addition to playing requests from her openers during the surprise song segment, Taylor seems to choose songs based on her celebrity attendees. The Summer I Turned Pretty's Jenny Han and Lola Tung attended the May 27 show, where Taylor played "False God," which was featured in season one.

And during her last performance in LA, Taylor Swift chose "New Romantics" from 1989 and "New Year's Day" from reputation. This is very telling because for one, "New Romantics" was the only song from 1989 that she hadn't sung yet, and it came right after the 1989 (Taylor's Version) announcement! And based on this frame from the "Karma" music video, we might be getting reputation TV after 1989 TV. So "New Year's Day" was the perfect follow-up!

November 19 and 20, at the end of Taylor Swift's time in Rio de Janeiro, she played two songs from Reputation: "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" and "So It Goes..." (both of which are two of my all-time favorite Taylor songs and are very under-appreciated). This leaves "I Did Something Bad" as the final Reputation surprise song, and Swifties are convinced we'll get the announcement before the end of November. Fans also pointed out both "Me!" and "So It Goes..." feature a 1,2,3 countdown in the lyrics — and there are only three shows left before Taylor takes another break. It's the perfect time for an announcement if you ask me!

What surprise song would you like to hear during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour? Let us know in the comments and follow us on Facebook for the latest pop culture updates.

Lead image via Haley Sprankle/B+C

This post has been updated.

Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.

What causes weak fingernails?

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

  • Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
  • Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
  • Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
  • Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

  • Cuticle oil
  • Biotin
  • Diet
  • Nail protection
  • Avoid picking and peeling
Here's why each factor is important, plus how you can go about successfully achieving them.

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

Looking for more beauty tips and inspo? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe

If we learned anything from the Great Ticketmaster Fiasco of 2022 (complete with Senators quoting lyrics to each other during the ticket platform's legal hearing?), is that it's way too hard to get concert tickets these days. For popular artists like Taylor Swift, ticket-selling platforms have so many hoops to jump through and qualifications to meet that it's easy to miss a concert, even if you're a mega-fan.

But thanks to these resell sites, Taylor Swift fans around the country (affectionally called "Swifties") are connecting with one another and making sure that tickets are sold for face value instead of an upcharge — even if it's the day of the show. While you brush up on the latest Taylor Swift theories, and read the Emily Henry book that matches the vibe of your favorite Taylor Swift album, check out these social media accounts that can help you score your own tickets to the Eras Tourin 2024.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Dates For 2024

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

  • Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan); February 7-10
  • MCG (Melbourne, Australia); February 16-18
  • Accor Stadium (Sydney, Australia); February 23-26
  • National Stadium, Singapore (Singapore); March 2-4; March 7-9
  • Paris La Défense Arena (Paris, France); May 9-12
  • Friends Arena (Stockholm, Sweden); May 17-19
  • Estadio da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal); May 24-25
  • Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid, Spain); May 29-30
  • Groupama Stadium (Lyon, France); June 2-3
  • BT Murrayfield Stadium (Edinburgh, UK); June 7-9
  • Anfield Stadium (Liverpool, UK); June 13-15
  • Principality Stadium (Cardiff, UK); June 18
  • Wembley Stadium (London, UK); June 21-23
  • Aviva Stadium (Dublin, Ireland); June 28-30
  • Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam, Netherlands); July 4-6
  • Stadion Letzigrund Zürich (Zürich, Switzerland); July 9-10
  • San Siro Stadium (Milan, Italy); July 13-14
  • Veltins-Arena (Gelsenkirchen, Germany); July 17-19
  • Volksparkstadion (Hamburg, Germany); July 23-24
  • Olumpiastadion (Munich, Germany); July 27-28
  • Pge Narodowy (Warsaw, Poland); August 1-3
  • Ernst-Happel-Stadion (Vienna, Austria); August 8-10
  • Wembley Stadium (London, UK); August 15-17; August 19-20
  • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL); October 18-20
  • Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA); October 25-27
  • Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN); November 1-3
  • BC Place (Vancouver, BC); December 6-8

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Dates For 2023

Image via John Medina/Getty Images

  • State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ); March 17 - 18
  • Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV); March 24 - 25
  • AT&T Stadium, (Arlington, TX); March 31 - April 2
  • Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL); April 13 - 15
  • NRG Stadium (Houston, TX); April 21 - 23
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA); April 28 - 30
  • Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN); May 5 - 7
  • Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA); May 12 - 14
  • Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA); May 19 - 21
  • MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ); May 26 - 28
  • Soldier Field (Chicago, IL); June 2 - 4
  • Ford Field (Detroit, MI); June 9 - 10
  • Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA); June 16 - 17
  • U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, MN); June 23 - 24
  • Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati, OH); June 30 - July 1
  • GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MI); July 7 - 8
  • Empower Field at Mile High (Denver, CO); July 14 - 15
  • Lumen Field (Seattle, WA); July 22 - 23
  • Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA); July 28 - 29
  • Sofi Stadium (Los Angeles, CA); August 3 - 5; August 7 - 9
  • Foro Sol (Mexico City, Mexico); August 24-27
  • Estadio River Plate (Buenos Aires, Argentina); November 9-11
  • Estádio Nilton Santos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); November 17-19
  • Allianz Parque (So Paulo, Brazil); November 24-26

How long is a Taylor Swift concert?

Image via John Medina/Getty Images

Taylor Swift's portion of an Eras Tour concert is three hours long, but there are openers too! In total, you'll be in the venue for around five hours. For my concert day (the stadium is over an hour from my home), I started getting ready at 10am, and left around noon to accommodate public transportation, traffic, and lines. I was in my seat at exactly 6:30!

How much are Eras Tour tickets?

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

While a variety of the resale tickets on larger platforms are in the thousands, there are plenty of fan-to-fan resales for under $1k!

Who is opening Eras Tour 2024?

Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Sabrina Carpenter is opening for Taylor Swift at the Australia shows in February and March 2024. When summer rolls around, Paramore's the Eras Tour opener in Europe, while Gracie Abrams will be the fall opener in Canada and the final US dates!

How to get Taylor Swift tickets 2024?

Image via John Medina/Getty Images

There are a few different ways you can get Taylor Swift tickets in 2024! Your price point, the city you want to go to, and the opener you're hoping to see will determine which route you take. Keep reading for a few routes you can take.

Accounts For Last Minute Taylor Swift Tickets

Image via Eras Tour Resell/Twitter

Eras Tour Resell

This Twitter site is without out a doubt my favorite resell account. They've included guidelines to streamline your Taylor Swift concert ticket process and ensure no one gets scammed. They even push to make sure ADA (accessibility seating) is given to the people that need it. This has quickly become a fan favorite way to grab tickets! Eras Tour Resell will post the ticket info, including pricing, date/location, and the account that you can DM. They also make sure to let their followers know when the ticket has sold.

Image via Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Concert Tickets Resale Group/Facebook

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Concert Tickets Resale Group

This Facebook group will make sure your tickets are as close to face value as possible. And thanks to the questionnaire and profile requirements, you shouldn't have to worry about scammers.

Image via Ticketmaster

Resell Websites

You can also check sites like Ticketmaster, Stub Hub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats for last-minute tickets — just make sure you double check the authenticity of the tickets before you cash out!

Follow us on Twitter for more pop culture updates and best of luck finding your own Taylor Swift concert tickets!

Lead image via John Medina/Getty Images

This post has been updated.

I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.

Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.

Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Image via Zach Wallnau

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!

Looking for more reading recs? Be sure to check out our storefront for more of our fave books!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image via Amazon

Calling all BookTok, bookstagrammers, and leisurely readers: the Amazon Book Sale has landed! I can barely contain myself because there’s so many great titles — including more than a few picks from Reese Witherspoon’s book club — that Amazon is discounting for it’s special reading crowd.

I know I’ve been stuck on romantasy books for a while (sorry, not sorry!), but there’s so many other great picks you’ll be able to snag on sale. And if you’re a Kindle type of woman, you’re not being left out.

Amazon isn’t leaving any stone unturned with this sale so let’s jump right into what to expect and which books are on sale right now!

When is the Amazon Book Sale?

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The Amazon Book Sale began May 15 and will end on May 20, so you still have time to add very discounted books to your TBR list!

What should I expect from the Amazon Book Sale?

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The Amazon Book Sale will feature titles from different genres that you can save up to 50% on. Not only that, but Kindle users can save up to 80% on books! In case you’re wondering, you're not dreaming — this is really, really good.

The best news about the sale is that you can start shopping deals NOW. So, what are you waiting for! Take a peek at our picks!

Are Kindle books included in the Amazon Book Sale?

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Yes! You'll be able to find a plethora of discounted kindle books during the Amazon Book Sale. The best news is that you can access three months of Kindle Unlimitedfor $0!

Shop Book Editors' Picks During the Amazon Sale

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

Alix Summer and Josie Fair quickly become friends after a chance meeting on their birthdays. They seem to have things in common which leads Alix to feature Josie on her podcast. But the closer they get, the more Alix feels conflicted about her new friend.

Before she can piece together her concerns, Josie has found her way into every part of Alix's life and it's only after she disappears that Alix realizes how much danger she's in.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Jen Weinstein and her friend Lauren Parker are ever popular in Salcombe, Fire Island during the summer season. They seem to have a hold on anyone that comes in contact with them, including their husbands. However, there's no denying that grudges have been steadily building over the years due to things unspoken. And Rachel Woolf? Well, she's just there to have a great time even if it's at someone else's expense.

However, who knows more than they're willing to share and who would be so angry that they'd commit a murder?

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Weyward is a moving novel that alternates between various timelines and involves a family's mystical powers.

In the present time of 2019, Kate takes refuge at her great-aunt's cottage that's worlds away from the person she's afraid of. She's not entirely sure, but she can't shake the feeling that there was more to her great-aunt than was outwardly presented.

The timeline of 1619 is then introduced and readers get to know Altha, a woman who's accused of having something to do with a farmer's death. The thing is Altha truly does know magic associated with the world around her, but people are on edge and will do anything to have a witch trial.

Then in 1942, we meet young Violet who feels trapped in more ways than one. She wants nothing more than to live a life that's not confined by hiding behind society's expectations of women. Her only connection to her mother and her past is finding the word 'weyward' in her bedroom, thus setting off a chain of events that lead back to 2019.

Stock Up On #BookTok Favorites

It Ends With Us & It Starts With Us Box Set by Colleen Hoover

For the first time ever, get your hands on the limited edition box set of Colleen Hoover's finest, It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us!

It Ends With Us begins with Lily believing that Ryle couldn't be more perfect for her despite his tendency to be rough around the edges. There's also the fact that he's not 100% open to dating. But, they somehow form a sort of love dance that becomes a romantic relationship. However, this is challenged when her first love Atlas comes back into her life.

It Starts With Us finds Lily and Ryle divorced, but they still communicate on friendly terms. But when Atlas comes into the picture again, Lily doesn't hesitate to let him into her world. It shouldn't feel complicated, but she knows that Atlas is the last man Ryle wants around. The ending is just as shocking, poignant, and beautiful as It Ends With Us.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Still excited that the movie adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue is getting a sequel that'll premiere on Amazon Prime? Me too, but we'll have to wait for more news to drop about it! Until then, we can revisit our favorite couple by Casey McQuiston's book that's on sale for $15!

House of Ash and Shadow by Leia Stone

Fallon Bane spends a great deal of her life being untouched because of a lethal curse she was born with. Despite her acceptance, she still yearns for intimacy. To make matters worse, her father's own health becomes comprised which leads her to seek out help from a healer fae — Ariyon Madden.

He not only begins helping her, but he always touches her in a way she's never experienced before. Fallon is shocked that she's still ver much alive and things finally seem to look bright for her. That is until Ariyon tells other powerful fae about her.

From there, Fallon learns the truth about who her family is and why her curse exists..

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Young Feyre commits an offense agains the immortal and very powerful fae that sends her to their magical world. Though she's away from a life of poverty and tension, she misses her family.

Still, she resides in the home of the 'beast' who allows her to live in his home — Tamlin. What she quickly realizes is that he's actually one of the powerful faes and that she's not the kind of prisoner she thinks she is. Even more, she begins questioning everything she'd learned about the Fae world because it's not quite like what mortals say it is.

As the hostility between Feyre and Tamlin dies down, an ancient evil continues spreading through his world and it'll be up to Feyre to help stop it.

Shop More Amazon Book Sale Deals!

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Anna Fox has agoraphobia so she spends time by herself at home by herself and fills her days with drinking, watching comfort movies, and being a nosy neighbor. That's how she knows a new family — The Russells — have moved across from her.

She continues her usually nosy activities and finds herself witnessing something that seems horribly wrong. As she frantically tries to piece together the mystery of what happened, it becomes clear that the lines of her imagination and reality have become blurred.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Kate Mularkey was never the popular girl until she met her best friend Tully. Their lives are polar opposite, but there's no denying how tight their bond is. Over time we learn that Tully has abandonment issues and looks for anyone — especially men — to love her. Her journey takes her to the big apple where she achieves all the glitz and glamour that life has to offer.

Kate goes on to become a wife and mother, two things she believes she wants, but it becomes clear that she's missing something. That something is what begins to burn a hole in her being and the more she watches her best friend Tully live a successful life, the more she wants that for herself too.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Elena Richardson and Mia Warren go to warn in this moving novel about classism. It dares to ask readers who deserves to be seen as a shining example of a mother as both women eventually face how far they're willing to go to protect those they love.

For Elena, Shaker Heights is all she's ever known. She's married, has four children, and is well-loved in her community. She believes that she's been able to achieve everything she has because she knows how to be the woman who doesn't color outside of the lines.

On the other hand, Mia is an artist who knows all about creating masterpieces with elements that are otherwise seen as messy. She and her daughter Pearl become a little too close to the Richardsons, finding their lives dangerously intertwined with them.

When a custody battle ensues that involves the young daughter of Mia co-worker, she finds herself willing to dismantle the pretty facade of not only Shaker Heights, but Elena as well.

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (Only 2 Left in Stock)

Cheryl Strayed has spent over 10 years dishing out advice as 'Dear Sugar' has touched people with her columns, podcast Dear Sugars, and Substack. Deciding to compile all of the best things she's ever told people, Cheryl Strayed pieced together Tiny Beautiful Things so that readers around the world won't have to look far for her empathetic wisdom.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgia Mulcahy is the ultimate people-pleaser and her career is the epitome of it. She'd probably always be that way had it not been for a unexpected career change that sends her packing back home. Begrudgingly, she goes and soon discovers a diary where she once wrote down all of her heart's desires.

This inspires her to start checking things off her life's to-do list so that she can really start living. It's just that Levi Fanning is somehow her unexpected roommate while she's at her parents' home and his offer to help her complete her list feels like something she didn't know she'd encounter.

The more they spend time together, the more Georgie feels like there's more to life than checking off things on a list.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

The Mitford sisters have always been the talk of the town, but nothing is as shocking as when one of the sisters decides she'd rather devote herself to a fascist leader. Another sister decides it's worth following her and this leads people to whisper salacious things about her alleged relationship with Hitler.

As the war between Great Britain and Germany threaten to spill over, their sister Nancy can't help but wonder what her sisters have gotten themselves into. She'll have to decide where her own allegiance lies.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Daphne Bell has always known how long she'll be with a man before moving on to the next one. It's not that she's flighty, but more so that the universe literally tells her what to expect. These little nudges have been in her life for over two decades and it's something she's learned to accept.

However, the universe decides to be cryptic by only clueing her in on the name of the next man she'll spend time with. It's odd because if Jake knew the things she did, there's a chance he could walk away from her forever and that's the last thing Daphne wants.

On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass

Brighton Hills appears to be a picturesque place to live. It's a community that beautifully blends luxurious living with the gorgeous nature that surrounds it and the neighbors always have their eyes on each other.

However, Cora's desire to find out if her husband is having an affair leads her to form a partnership with Paige. She's the one neighbor that Cora knows keeps a watchful eye on what's going on in Brighton Hills after her son died.

The two women work together to discover what Cora's husband is really up to, but what they may stumble across will send a shockwave through Brighton Hills.

Discounted Kindle Book Deals

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalo

The Prince of Envy is struggling to save his demon court in Throne of the Fallen, but he's determined to find a way to do so. He's not afraid of the magic and mysterious people that keep crossing his path because nothing can stop his fierce desire to regain the control he once has.

Things are seemingly no different from Miss Camilla Antonius because she's facing blackmail by someone who literally makes her skin crawl. In order to change her fate, she reluctantly joins forces with The Prince of Envy and thus begins their dangerous journey through the Underworld.

It's the one place that may pull them together in more ways than one.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Hart spends most of his time patrolling Tanria, but the loneliness does nothing to keep him company. Things couldn't be any different for Mercy though. She's tasked with making sure things are running properly at Birdsall & Son Undertakers and doesn't have time for anyone's foolery.

Ironically, Hart and Mercy both have taken up writing mysterious letters to strangers who have become their friends. The thing is they're not aware they've been communicating with each other.

It's a classic enemies-to-loves fantasy novel that'll make you smile with glee.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Molly Gray is the Head Maid at the prestigious Regency Grand Hotel and runs a tight ship that makes sure the hotel maintains a flair that guests have become accustomed to. All is going well until successful author J.D. Grimthorpe suddenly collapses and is pronounced dead.

This lands Detective Stark — someone Molly doesn't exactly get along with — back on the scene as it's realized there's something terribly wrong going on. Anyone could be a suspect, including Molly. It'll be up to her to revisit things she's kept secret — like the trip she took to Grimthorpe's property long ago.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Emily Henry knows exactly what it takes to write a moving novel that's filled with friendship, laughter, and romance. That's why it's not surprising that Happy Place is well loved by #BookTok and #Bookstagram.

It's all about how a once happy couple — Harriet and Wyn — find themselves embroiled in an interesting ruse so their friends don't suspect something's wrong with them. The fact is that they're no longer together and can barely stand being in the same room anymore.

It would be find if they weren't expected to happily show up to the cottage that's become the yearly hub for them and their friends. Still, they begrudgingly decide to make an appearance.

What's the worst that could happen?

For the first time, you'll be able to read Happy Place on Kindle for $5!

We can't wait to see what you snag during the Amazon Book Sale! Check out our storefront for more reading recs!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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This post has been updated.