The power of fandom: What makes you want to travel abroad to watch your favourite artists perform

South Africa frequently misses out on world tours featuring renowned musical acts, prompting many enthusiasts to embark on overseas journeys to witness their favourite stars in action. In this feature, we speak to three South Africans who embarked on precisely such adventures.

Within the last few weeks, both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé announced that the film versions of their epic concerts would be coming to movie theatres. This is good news for international fans who never got the opportunity to see the concerts in person. And while we can enjoy the music and theatrics, there is nothing quite like being at a live event.

In 2019, I went overseas for the first time to watch Ariana Grande at her Sweetener World Tour at The O2 Arena in London. It was unlike anything I had experienced before. From the atmosphere to the effects to the sound quality, it was like I had stepped into a different world. Despite the fact that I was alone and that I was very far away from the stage, it was still something that I was so glad to have experienced.