Bruce Springsteen fans in Liverpool for 'Boss' gig

American superstar Bruce Springsteen will take to the stage later in Liverpool for his first ever performance in the city.

The rock legend and his E Street Band are performing two gigs this week at Anfield as part of his The Land of Hope and Dreams tour.

Fans from across the world have descended on the city for the shows.

Among them are USA college graduates Andrew Rosenberg, Ryan Simon and David Schaffer, who said the show would be the "highlight" of a two-week tour of Europe.

"A Springsteen concert is unlike any other experience there is," Andrew said.

The friends said being at Anfield for his first Liverpool show was "magical".

"We've been looking forward to it since we planned the trip," Ryan added.

"We built the trip around this and we really feel like it's the highlight."

Dutch fans Swati Engelbeefs-Mukhajee, Chantal Migchelbeink, Selkje van der Veen and Sandra Gordijn have also made a special trip to the city for the show.

They became lifelong friends after meeting through going to Springsteen gigs.

Closer to home, superfan Ollie said he had travelled from Wrexham for the gig with 11-year-old daughter Mollie, for what would be his 93rd show and his daughter's second.

"It started in 1999 with The Reunion Tour, with my dad who's a big fan," he said.

"We pretty much followed him around Europe and America since then."

Springsteen picked Mollie out in the crowd when she saw him live for the first time, and she said she was excited to see him again.

"It was my first show, I got very lucky," she said.

"He talked to me and came over and gave me his harmonica and plectrum."

Ollie said the Springsteen fans were "a real community".

"We are friends and family. It's a really lovely feeling," he said.

Ben Sexton, from Liverpool, said: "I've been a fan since discovering his Darkness of the Edge of Town album in my parents' record collection as a kid."

"I can't believe I'm finally getting to see him. It's one of my few remaining 'bucket list' gigs."

His wife Sarah said: "I'm not as big a fan as Ben but I'm excited to be going to my first stadium gig at age 51."

After the Liverpool gig the tour will head to Germany, before dates in the Czech Republic, Spain and Italy.

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