There's Something About Harry

How many times have you seen your favorite artist in concert? Maybe twice? Three times if you're lucky? Well Sarah Grace Russell is one lucky girl. The qualified superfan has seen musician Harry Styles live over twenty times! Traveling throughout Europe and the UK this year to see Styles' 'Love On Tour', Sarah is setting the bar high for the rest of the Harries.

(Russell at Wembley Stadium, Instagram)

I've been curious about superfandom for a while. Why, I ask myself, would one see the same show multiple times? How do you pay for that? Who do you go with? Who handles transportation? Sarah has been generous enough to share some of her experiences on the road.

The 19 year old from Melbourne, Australia is not currently studying at University, however she has a PhD in Harry.

A fan since One Direction, Sarah has seen Styles twice before this tour, saying he has grown as an artist and performer: "Compared to his...first solo tour...he was a lot more reserved...he was obviously...just starting out and...this specific Europe tour...he was saying over and over again [that] this is his favorite tour he's ever done." Her favorite shows were Wembley Stadium night one and Lisbon night two.

Sarah travelled throughout Europe and the UK all with mutual 'Harries' (Styles' fan base name, like Swifties for Taylor Swift and Barbz for Nicki Minaj) all of whom she met on Twitter. Meeting more fans along the way at shows, Sarah said by the end there were over thirty in her touring group. From camping out with other fans she met in Sweden to dancing with band members of the opening act, Wolf Alice, Sarah shared that the social aspect is her favorite part! However, it's not all bright and shiny. Fans can get competitive: "I think a big part...is outfits. What people wear to the show...who had the best outfit...to me...that's not what the shows are about." Sarah also mentioned that she had been a bit hesitant to share how many shows she'd gone to as she is usually met with weird reactions. Her parents and co-workers for example wondering if she's spending her time and money wisely. But Sarah loves what she does! One Styles fan went as far as posting on Twitter how many shows she has been to claiming she was taking away seats from other fans. Other than that, Sarah says "people aren't really mean or negative...it's more of a curiosity...it's all fun in the end!"

I was most interested to ask Sarah how she managed to finance this world tour. I was hesitant to ask this question but she was so open and engaging that I felt I could. This kind of an enterprise means tickets, lodging, flights, meals, etc. Sarah says she and her friends purchased tickets back in 2019 when the tour was still set for 2020 before the pandemic hit. While traveling now in 2022, the gang chose the cheapest options available, staying in hostels and even camping out at shows to get front row seats! Although the main focus was seeing Styles in concert, Sarah did use some of her time to sight see, even skipping a few shows to explore.

Sarah is not ready to call it quits. She will be seeing Styles seven more times this coming February when he comes to Australia. Harry Styles, you're one lucky guy to have amazing fans like this. Keep doing what you do cause Sarah is out there and she's coming to see you!

Click below for more of my chat with Sarah: