Taylor Swift hits right notes at Ford Field concert - Detroit Free Press

With a unique mix of superstar poise and girl-next-door wholesomeness, Taylor Swift swept into Ford Field on Saturday for one of the biggest concerts she's played yet.

It was just the second stadium headlining show of the 21-year-old star's career, and she made the most of the occasion for a rosy cheeked, young crowd of 47,922 people, fitting two hours of sing-along, scream-along hits into a Broadway-inspired visual spectacle.

The late-evening sun was still seeping through Ford Field's frosted panes when Swift took the stage at 8:45 p.m., greeted by a colorful array of flashing cell phones, glow-sticks and I-LUV-U-TAYLOR handmade signs.

She paused to take in the extended applause following her opening performance of "Sparks Fly," her famously innocent demeanor accompanied by a new edge of sultriness.

Bonded with her audience like a best friend or big sister, Swift kept a sweetness in her confident performance, eyes sparkling as she addressed fans.

"You guys are just so nice," she said.

Even at 5-foot-11-inches and in a glittering fringed dress, Swift often was a small presence in the cavernous Ford Field, and fans' gazes were often locked onto the video screens flanking her massive stage.

"It's still sinking in to me that this is a stadium," she said early in the night.

Her set made room for a touch of country twang, the fetching pop melodies of songs like "You Belong with Me" and the grittier guitars of "Better Than Revenge."

It was a night of quick costume changes and a show loosely structured in a series of acts, on a versatile stage that saw Swift and her cast of actor-dancers springing up from below.

Swift made her way up a golden gazebo for "The Story of Us," and watched confetti snow drift across the front rows as she took to a white baby grand piano for a perfectly lovely "Back to December." A wedding scene -- complete with church pews -- was rolled out for "Speak Now," a front-porch hootenanny for "Our Song."

She had a ukulele in hand for a mid-show spell at a satellite stage on the main floor, having been escorted through the shrieking crowd by a pair of guards.

The sound was often washed out in the reverb-drenched Ford Field, but that was OK for a crowd that knew all these songs inside out.

View the original article here

Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift 'Feel Horrible' About Concert Cancellation - MTV.com

The weather just didn't want to cooperate with the Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift and the other artists slated to perform in New York's Central Park on Thursday night at a concert to benefit the Robin Hood Foundation anti-poverty organization. After a number of delays, and before anyone could take the stage, the Concert 4 NYC had been canceled.

The show, which had been slated to take place on Central Park's Great Lawn and was expected to draw an audience of approximately 60,000 fans, initially was just delayed but concert promoters eventually decided to pull the plug on the event as the weather worsened and thunder and rain rolled in, Billboard.com reports. Among the other acts that had been scheduled to perform were Debbie Harry, LL Cool J and Natasha Bedingfield.

A rep for the concert has confirmed to MTV News that no new date has been scheduled. In a statement, the Robin Hood Foundation said, "The heat wasn't going to stop them, the rain wasn't going to stop them, but the lightning — it stopped them. It came down to safety for everyone. Organizers are hoping to reschedule, so ticket buyers should hold onto their tickets. Robinhood.org will have information in the next week or so."

The artists themselves also have apologized to fans for the cancelation. Swift tweeted, "I was like 'I get to sing with Fergie in NYC?!' and then there was rain and lightning and they're like 'it's cancelled' and I was like [sad emoticon]."

The Black Eyed Peas, who reportedly performed an intimate show backstage for fans, also took to Twitter to posted about the nixed concert. "I'm so sad the show got postponed," will.i.am wrote.

"Fergie is really sorry it's not happening we feel horrible," Taboo added on his Twitter page. "We are devastated and Fergie told me to tweet this she loves u all ... I hope that the concert will be rescheduled ASAP, our pea-ple deserve it, my pea-ple from chase and robinhood deserve this NYC we love u."

View the original article here

<b>Taylor Swift</b> Turns Concert Rehearsal Into Tornado Fundraiser <b>...</b>

For the first time ever, Taylor Swift is letting fans watch her rehearse for her upcoming Speak Now World Tour -- and it's all for a good cause.

To benefit victims of the recent tornadoes in the Southeast, the 21-year-old singer is letting 13,000 fans get a sneak peek of her upcoming tour during Speak Now...Help Now! on May 21 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's most-charitable celebs

"I was watching the coverage of the tornadoes backstage at rehearsals, and I wanted to do something for the families affected by the damage," the country superstar tells Us Weekly in a statement.

One hundred percent of ticket sales from the dress rehearsal will go directly to help tornado victims. This isn't the first time Swift has lent her star power to a worthy cause; earlier this year, the "Better Than Revenge" singer supported relief efforts in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

PHOTOS: Stars who care

"I've never opened a rehearsal to the public before, but I felt that inviting my fans to the last rehearsal for the Speak Now Tour would be a great way to raise money," Swift says. "So, tickets will be available for people to come see us in the Bridgestone Arena, where we've been rehearsing for the last five weeks."

PHOTOS: Taylor's stunning style evolution

More details regarding the fundraiser will be available beginning May 9 on the singer's official website. In 2010, DoSomething.org ranked Swift the world's 3rd most philanthropic celebrity on their annual Celebs Gone Good list.

The North American leg of Swift's Speak Now World Tour kicks off May 27 in Omaha, Nebraska.

View the original article here

<b>Taylor Swift</b> Performs Free Concert in Central Park - The Hollywood <b>...</b>

While rumors about her love life continue to swirl - GyllenSwift, anyone? - Taylor Swift is in full-on album promotion mode.

The singer's new CD hit stores yesterday and Swift treated fans in New York City to a surprise on behalf of it: she performed a free concert in Central Park.

As far as we know, no ex-boyfriends were harmed during the event, as fans attendees cheered wildly for Taylor. The talented crooner was accompanied by an orchestra, a piano and a lovely day. Click on the following photos to enlarge each...

A Central Perk: Taylor Swift performs in NYC. [Photos: Pacific Coast News]

View the original article here