Who’s opening for Taylor Swift in Kansas City? What to know about MUNA & Gracie Abrams

How do you prepare a sold-out stadium brimming with tens of thousands of die-hard Taylor Swift fans awaiting the global star’s return to Kansas City?

With more pop power, apparently.

The Eras Tour has already hosted a variety of opening performers like Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red and Paramore in concerts across the nation. Now, queer-pop trio MUNA and breathy singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams will open for Swift at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on July 7 and 8.

Both opening acts are touring with Swift for the first time ever, and have already performed several sets with the star on her much-anticipated Eras Tour.

“Watching the Taylor show is a lesson in being the best musician alive,” MUNA member Josette Maskin told People Magazine last month. “She’s honestly been nothing but wonderful to us, and we just feel so lucky and privileged to get the chance to even just watch the show, let alone perform.”

So, how’d they land a gig touring with one of the world’s biggest pop stars?

Who is Gracie Abrams?

If Gracie Abrams’ last name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. She’s the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker J.J. Abrams, who’s known for producing “Star Trek” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and creating TV shows like “Lost” and “Alias.”

Gracie Abrams released two EPs (in 2020 and 2021) before putting out her debut album “Good Riddance” in February of this year.

She previously opened for Olivia Rodrigo in the young pop star’s “Sour” tour, and has headlined three concert tours independently.

Last weekend in Cincinnati, Swift brought Abrams out on stage after Abrams’ set was canceled due to inclement weather. The two sang Abrams’ “I miss you, I’m sorry” live for the Ohio crowd.

The 23-year-old will also play a small, 150-person show at Kansas City’s Josey Records at 3:45 p.m. on July 7 before she makes her debut at Arrowhead.

Abrams will play the first opening set at Swift’s KC concerts, and is expected to take the stage at around 6:30 p.m.

Check out these three songs to get ready for Abrams’ set:

• “21,” the intimate 2020 single that helped propel Abrams to fame

• “Where do we go now?” the second single on the singer’s debut album, “Good Riddance,” which came out this year

• “Block me out,” a non-album hit single released in 2022 with The National’s Aaron Dessner (who’s a frequent collaborator of Swift’s, too)

Who is MUNA?

MUNA (pronounced moon-a) is an American indie-pop band consisting of Katie Gavin, Josette (Jo) Maskin and Naomi McPherson. The trio first met at the University of Southern California in 2013 and has been making music together ever since.

They released their first two albums — “About U” in 2017 and “Saves the World” in 2019 — with RCA Records before signing with Phoebe Bridgers’ record label Saddest Factory in 2021.

Later that year, MUNA made waves with their single “Silk Chiffon” featuring Bridgers, which Rolling Stone called a “buoyant track with an uncharacteristically bright declaration of queer love.” (All three members of the band are queer.)

In June 2022, MUNA released their third studio album, self-titled “MUNA,” to much fanfare and recently performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk.

The band was most recently in Kansas City when they performed at The Truman this past fall, and when they opened for Kacey Musgraves at the T-Mobile Center in January 2022.

They’ve been touring with Swift in select shows of her Eras Tour since March, interspersed with dates for their solo tour and also opening for fellow pop star Lorde in the Australian leg of her Solar Power tour.

The trio sold out most of its solo tour dates for venues of 3,000-4,000 fans. But the 55,000 fans each night at Arrowhead could hit different.

MUNA is expected to take the stage at Arrowhead after Abrams and before Swift.

In addition to “Silk Chiffon,” listen to these three songs to get ready for their set:

• “One That Got Away,” the band’s newest single

• “I Know a Place,” the hit single from the band’s first album that launched their careers and secured their status as queer role models

• “What I Want,” the dance anthem that the band has been opening most of its recent shows with

Our guide to the Eras Tour:

• How early can fans get to Arrowhead for Taylor Swift shows in KC? Parking lot info, rules

• Taylor Swift merch truck is coming to Arrowhead. When KC fans can purchase Eras Tour gear

• Expert tips for Taylor Swift KC shows: The merch, the deals. And what if it rains?

• KC Swifties can prepare for Eras Tour shows with a week of Taylor Swift-themed events

• What do Arrowhead’s rules mean for Swifties planning to ‘Taylor-gate’ at Kansas City shows?

• Tailgating before Taylor Swift’s Kansas City shows? Tips for Arrowhead from Chiefs fans

• Kansas City is transforming into Swift City. Where fans can see the metro’s odes to Eras

• Let the games begin? Missouri AG warns of ticket scams ahead of Taylor Swift’s KC shows