The End of an Era

DECEMBER 12 - OUR FINAL LIVE SHOW

They say “All's Well that Ends Well” and we couldn't have asked for a better ending to a nearly 5-year run as one of the Midwest's favorite Taylor Swift tribute bands than seeing you at our 4th and FINAL Christmas Birth-TAY Bash!

“Can I Ask You A Question?”

Yes, you probably want to know “why?” It's not because we don't love Taylor and you and each other! All six members of this band each have families and lives and big careers that have just pulled us in different directions, so we are ready to retire the live show.

The Story of Us

Burning Red began taking shape in 2021 while John and I spent our weekends attending Taylor Swift dance party nights. Since I'm a longtime Swiftie and had spent years learning to play all of Taylor's songs, John suggested that we could have our own Taylor Swift events except instead of a DJ, I'd actually play Taylor's songs LIVE.

I laughed. “Who would want to see that?” I asked. As it turns out… many of you!

We joked that we could call it “Burning Red” because of my red hair. Then we made up some fliers and booked a few shows as acoustic duo; just John and I playing on the floors of local bars while people ate their burgers and cheese curds. But I knew I wanted to play the full version of Taylor's songs: Big, Loud, Exciting POP music. That meant we needed a full band.

I knew what I wanted, and boy I got it.

We posted an ad looking for other musicians and at first, we got a bunch of guys coming in who didn't take Taylor's music seriously. They played the wrong drum parts, or said snide things about her songs. I knew I wasn't going to settle for anything less than SWIFTIE musicians who could play every single note with the utmost respect for Taylor's songwriting and her talented band.

Within a few months, I had pulled together an Avenger's-style group of wicked-talented people who took Taylor's music just as seriously as I did.

In order of hiring:

Dave on Bass. He's the second biggest Swiftie I know and he will cry if you get him talking about Taylor's songwriting. Dave and I cry a lot together. He's become one of my best friends and favorite people on the planet.

Bob E. Noodles on lead guitar. No, that's not his real name. We came up with it one day early on when Bob was playing some mean guitar licks and I said “Ooooh, I like the way you're noodling.” From then on, it was Bob E. Noodles and then we spent years playfully keeping a running whiteboard full of every variation we could think of, like Whitey Noodles, Boomer Noodles, etc. He will probably answer to the name Noodles for the rest of his life.

Lisa G on Harmonica and Backing Vocals. The first time she came to my house and surprised me by pulling out her harmonica to play it on Betty, I burst into tears. She was hired on the spot. And most people don't realize that Lisa drives all the way up from Bloomington, IL for every single practice. A 4 hour roundtrip, just to rehearse Taylor's songs with us. That's love and dedication.

Tommy Big-Time on Drums. Tommy lived with his Swiftie sister during COVID and became a Swiftie through repeated exposure. He earned his nickname as we were packing up our first show when texted a picture of the sold-out crowd to his friends and they jibed “Oh I guess you're big time now." From that moment on, we called him Tommy Big-Time and when you hear the way he hits the drums, you know that name is earned on a lot of levels.

We thought we'd play some more bars and maybe it would last six months.

Then, Taylor Announced the Era's Tour…

Just one week after the Eras tour kicked off, we played our first real full-band show at Theater on the Lake and it SOLD OUT. Before I knew it, we had a booking agent, a packed show schedule, and a full-on business to run – All while keeping our day jobs and parenting our kids.

I had no idea this would become what it did. That YOU would make it what it is.

I had no idea we would sell out shows all over the Midwest.
I had no idea we would break the record at the Devon Amphitheater for the Most Tickets Sold EVER by a tribute artist.
I had no idea that we would end up featured in Episode 4 of the Eras Tour documentary (I'm STILL SCREAMING.)
I had no idea how many Swifties we would get to meet, and befriend, and grow close to.

One day, maybe I'll write a book about this whole journey that was filled with learning and lessons and fun and drama. It was a wild ride and I couldn't have been on it with any better bandmates. They made this whole crazy journey one to appreciate and remember forever.

For the last four years, we've brought you the highest quality shows we could possibly think to bring, and you have shown us so much love and support in return through ticket sales and merch sales and interacting with us online. This is a relationship I will miss deeply. I love this community so much. And I will miss playing Taylor's songs while you sing and dance. I will miss talking to you all at shows. And I will deeply miss playing Taylor's songs live with my exceptionally talented bandmates and joking with my unbelievably talented stage crew.

You will still find me on our socials, probably singing Taylor's songs into the camera for as long as you'll let me.

But I hope I see you one last time in person this December 12th.

Don't wait to get your tickets - you know this one always sells out.

With all my love and gratitude, Gina (Head Swiftie, Vocals, Guitar, Piano)