Meet the Harry Styles superfans camping at Ibrox ahead of Glasgow gig
The fans, also known as Harries, have travelled across Europe and America to see the former One Direction star, with many planning to follow the monumental tour to as many cities as possible.
Styles, 28, announced his return to the road in January with tickets selling out within minutes of going on sale.
Glasgow is the first stop on his 32-city expedition which will see the multi-platinum artist travel across the UK, Europe and South America.
Around 20 fans have been flocking to a small green outside Ibrox stadium to camp in the days leading up to Styles’ gig. More people are expected to arrive through the evening, with tents and power banks in hand.
The young admirers connect with each other over devoted Harry Styles WhatsApp groups, travelling alone to venues and linking up with fellow Harries when they arrive.
Caroline Lecomte, 22, from Bourdeaux, travelled by herself from France and has been camped out at Ibrox for over 15 hours already. Her first time seeing Harry was at his One Night Only show in london a few weeks ago.
Speaking today, she said: “It was so nice to be so close to him when it was a smaller venue, but its also very exciting to see him perform in such a big venue, because I’m just so proud of him.”
She added: “Im going to Manchester and London, and also my home show, Paris, and Turin and Stockholm.”
Lani Benfield, from The Netherlands, is turning 24 and celebrating her “birthday show” at Ibrox.
Lani travelled to Glasgow alone but has met up with friends from home and is making new ones in the queue.
She said: “It’s been raining a little bit in the evening but it’s actually pretty nice.
“It’s not too cold, we’re all very cosy. We’ve got our sweaters, and everybody is super kind and super caring. So it’s really great.”
Nicole Kinowski, 25, has travelled nine and a half hours from Chicago to camp out before the gig.
“I travelled here alone but I did meet up with my friends that I met through the last tour when I came to a London show. We’ve been friends since 2018, kept in touch and everything,” she says.
Nicole is one of the only camping fans that’s met Styles. She told The Glasgow Times she convinced her mum in 2012 to let her blow off her freshman finals in high school to camp out for a One Direction book signing at a local mall.
She said: “Harry was really young, he was like 18 at the time. He was really nice, they were all really, really nice.”
Magda J., 21, travelled around six hours from her town in Poland and arrived at the stadium at 10am on Thursday.
She said: “I saw him in 2018, and I met really nice friends doing the tour. So I’m very excited for this one as well.
“I’m doing a couple of more shows in the UK. I’m really excited for the Eastern European tour because it’s going to be the first concert in my home country, Poland, so I’m excited for that one.”
Amber Van Der Ent, 26, travelled from her home in Rotterdam to be here: “I came straight after work and arrived at 11pm yesterday. I’ve been camping for 12 hours.”
She said: “I’m very excited, I’ve been looking forward to it for the last two years basically. So I’m happy to be back.
“I’m doing about ten shows for this tour.”
Amber added: “Last tour I forgot my ticket at home and I had to buy a new ticket for the show.
“It did actually turn out quite nice because I had front row for the B Stage.
“For the other shows I was in the front bit, so I had a nice change of view, but yeah, it was very stressful to buy a new ticket at the venue for sure.”
Marika Candiotti, 21, from Manchester, is also a veteran Styles concert camper.
She said: “If there isn’t any drama, it’s really chill. Like, I came here by myself, and I didn’t know anyone. And we’re just like, getting along really well.”
Amelie Jourdan, above, 20, Gaelle Berthoumieux, 22, and Tsetse Turpin, 20, all travelled from France for the gig.
Gaelle jokes that she is paying Harry’s rent: “I just love to spend money on Harry.”
She added: “I want to see every single part of his face and his curls and everything, so that’s why I’m queuing from today.”
For Tsetse, it’s a barrel of firsts: the first time she has been on a plane, to a stadium show, and to see Styles.
She said: “We really wanted to come to be as close as we can and enjoy the best as we can this concert because I think it’s going to be really crazy.”
Amelie added: “I’ve come with my friends and I’m here because I think it’s a very good experience for life.”
Carlos Valencia, 63, and his daughter, Miriam Valencia, 18, travelled all the way from Santa Rosa, California to see Harry’s Glasgow show. They plan to follow him to his Manchester show as well before heading back across the pond.
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