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Just hours before Taylor Swift handed him her hat on stage nine-year-old Archie did not even have a ticket

Taylor Swift takes Eras Tour to Singapore, leaving behind wowed Aussie fans and a handful of happy kids with their keepsake hats

Archie Wilson wearing signature Taylor Swift friendship bracelets and the Taylor 22 hat he was given by the superstar at the concert on Saturday night. Picture: Damian Shaw
Archie Wilson wearing signature Taylor Swift friendship bracelets and the Taylor 22 hat he was given by the superstar at the concert on Saturday night. Picture: Damian Shaw

READING LEVEL: GREEN

Taylor Swift’s down under adventure is over for now with the superstar singer leaving Australia for six sellout concerts in Singapore.

She leaves behind an estimated $145 million economic impact* on New South Wales businesses following her four sold out Eras Tour concerts at Accor stadium.

During her concerts, Swift made the Wildest Dreams of some young fans come true when she had them meet her at the stage to receive one of her hats and a priceless hug.

Archie hugging Taylor Swift at one of her Sydney shows. Photo: TikTok
Archie hugging Taylor Swift at one of her Sydney shows. Photo: TikTok

Just two hours before one of her concerts at Accor Stadium began, nine-year-old Archie Wilson did not even have a ticket, yet hours later, he was hugging his idol.

Mum Briohny went on the website for the umpteenth time* to check at 5.30pm on Saturday afternoon and let out a yell when the tickets came up.

“I didn’t even look where they were, I just bought them and shouted that we had to get going,” she said.

Wilson dancing at his home in Castlereagh with the Taylor 22 hat he was given at the concert. Picture: Damian Shaw
Wilson dancing at his home in Castlereagh with the Taylor 22 hat he was given at the concert. Picture: Damian Shaw

“We have been trying to get tickets for ages. You have got to manifest these things.”

There was no time for public transport from their home at Castlereagh outside Penrith so dad Jack agreed to drive and then wait for four hours while Briohny and sons Archie, 9, and Charlie, 11, went inside.

“When we got there I realised the tickets that I had paid $79 for were originally $350 tickets right at the front,” she said. Next to them was the VIP tent* with Rebel Wilson and Taylor Swift’s father Scott.

Taylor Swift performing at Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park on the opening night of the Sydney leg of her Eras Tour. Picture: Richard Dobson
Taylor Swift performing at Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park on the opening night of the Sydney leg of her Eras Tour. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Archie was just dancing and living his best life and somebody noticed him,” Briohny said. “Someone from the crew tapped him on the shoulder and he was asked to go to the front.”

Archie, who dances five nights a week at Performing Arts* Western Sydney, followed but with no real idea what was happening.

“I just stood on the edge of the stage and started dancing when the 22 song* started and I saw Taylor Swift coming down with the hat,” he said.

Swift and various performers at Accor Stadium for the first Sydney show of The Eras Tour. Picture: TAS Rights Management
Swift and various performers at Accor Stadium for the first Sydney show of The Eras Tour. Picture: TAS Rights Management

“It was amazing, she came and knelt down and gave the hat to me and I just gave her a huge hug,” he said. “It just felt amazing to be with her.”

The magic did not stop there. Briohny posted a short video of Archie dancing that went viral* with more than 2.2 million views.

One commented Archie’s dancing was “iconic*”.

Swift hands out a hat to a young fan at every concert with nine-year-old brain cancer sufferer Scarlett Oliver receiving it during the first show on Friday.

GLOSSARY

  • economic impact: influence on the economy
  • umpteenth time: many times, often
  • VIP tent: A special area for very important guests
  • performing arts: activities related to music, dance, and drama
  • 22 song: A specific song by Taylor Swift
  • viral: quickly spreading widely on the internet
  • iconic: highly recognised and admired

EXTRA READING

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Tay Tay’s Melbourne touchdown

Taylor Swift song breaks seven years of silence

Tay Tay named Person of the Year

QUICK QUIZ

  1. Where is Taylor Swift heading after her down under adventure?
  2. How much is the estimated economic impact left behind in New South Wales businesses?
  3. What did Taylor Swift give to young fans during her concerts?
  4. How did Archie Wilson get a ticket to one of Taylor Swift’s concerts?
  5. Why did Archie become noticeable during the concert, according to Briohny?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. 22 hat
Who and how do you think chooses who will receive Taylor’s 22 hat?

Do you think Archie was a worthy recipient?

What other things might Taylor Swift do to give back to her fans and society as a whole?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What is it about Taylor Swift that caused such a frenzy of excitement in Australia during her tour?

Would Australian authorities and crowds be happy to have her back? Explain your answer.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.

Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.