For fans who missed out on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour – or who simply want to relive the magic all over again – ‘The Unofficial Tribute Show – Taylor’ is landing on the Gold Coast on January 3.
Leading the show is Australian performer (and lifelong Swiftie) Josette, who says the whole project was built from pure love for Taylor’s music.
“All of us on the team are Swifties,” she says. “I didn’t get to see the Eras Tour in person, but I watched the film and it blew me away. We all picked our favourite parts of the show and brought them together. We recreated the costumes and the moments people love, and we’ve put together an incredible band from all over the world. There’s so much love in every Era.”
The goal? A night that feels like a celebration – friendship bracelets, dress-ups, sing-alongs and all. And according to audiences, they’ve nailed it.
“We’ve had such kind feedback from people after the show – even people who saw the Eras Tour live have said we’re doing it justice. That means so much to us. It’s just so much fun.”
Creating a tribute for someone with as many hits, albums and eras as Taylor is no small task, and Josette laughs when asked where you even begin.
“It’s not easy! Because we’re inspired by the tour and have time limits, we had to be a bit brutal about what we could include. But we’ve found a good mix of big moments and little references for the die-hard Swifties. Even the dads who don’t know much about her have fun.
“And yes – we’ve got a surprise song.”
Being a Swiftie herself helped Josette step into the role, though it didn’t remove the pressure entirely. Matching Taylor’s stamina? That took work.
“She’s 100% energy the whole time. I’ve had to get my fitness up, get my voice up, make sure every lyric is locked in. Every night I come off after two hours and think, ‘She does a whole other show on top of this’. It’s wild.”
After studying Taylor so closely, Josette says the secret to her success isn’t just the music – it’s the way she handles everything around it.
“She has so much respect for her fans. She knows how much effort people put in to see her, and she treats that with the importance it deserves. The loyalty goes both ways. And she loves what she does – the passion, the enthusiasm, the way she cares about lyrics and storytelling. She’s a great example for anyone.”
As for what audiences can expect on the Gold Coast, Josette says the energy in the room is half the magic.
“The biggest thing for Swifties is being surrounded by other Swifties – we don’t get to do that all the time. Bring your mates, dress up, swap friendship bracelets. Get excited for that feeling.”
And if you’re not a Swiftie? You might be surprised. Josette says so many people in the crew didn’t realise how many songs they knew until they started working on the show.
“Just come ready to enjoy your night out – it’s not something you do every day.”
As for her favourite Taylor song, Josette – like any Swiftie – says it changes constantly.
“Today it’s ‘Breathe’,” she decides. “It makes me feel so warm and happy. My favourite to perform is probably ‘Look What You Made Me Do’. I get to step into my villain energy. When the Reputation section starts, the atmosphere in the crowd is just next level.”
The Gold Coast will be the first show of their Australian tour, and Josette says she’s particularly excited to return to The Star.
“It’s such a beautiful venue. And being on the Gold Coast in summer, during the festive season – the energy is going to be amazing. I can’t wait.”
Keen to secure tickets? We’re making it easier than The Eras Tour, promise – click here to go into the draw to win one of four double passes. To learn more about the show, click here.
