On Sunday 26th April, Olivia Dean took centre stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live. She delivered what can only be described as an exceptional display of elegance and class, as her breathtaking vocals and effortless stage presence stunned the UK’s largest indoor arena. She transformed the room into something that felt undeniably intimate, despite the sell-out crowd gathered before her. Overall, Dean proved her position as a breath of fresh air in the modern music scene and left her audience with a heartfelt reminder of The Art Of Loving.
She kicked off the night with The Art Of Loving interlude, building a beautiful shared anticipation amongst the crowd. She quickly dissolved any lingering tension through a seamless transition into fan-favourite ‘Nice To Each Other’. The audience were singing along from the very first line. The track’s inescapable charm elevated the arena and set the tone perfectly for the rest of the evening. She followed with two more from her sophomore album, performing both ‘Lady Lady’ and ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’ with unfiltered grace. She moved through each song with a natural fluidity and her vocals soared effortlessly over her audience.
Her performance of ‘I’ve Seen It’ was perhaps the most poignant of her set. The song’s message about finding love and beauty in the smaller things in life was omnipresent in this moment. The song retained a striking sense of intimacy, with every lyric carrying the emotional weight she intended. Her crowd responded in kind, swaying and singing softly along. It is safe to say that the understated beauty of her performance captivated everyone in the room.
Her b-stage set slowed the pace of the night down, and featured an unforgettable performance of ‘Loud’. I think anybody there will agree that this solidified her deserved place in contention to be the next artist behind a Bond song. The closing act featured a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’, which was an unapologetically fabulous rendition.
This feel-good atmosphere was expertly maintained, as she delivered the concluding performances of ‘Dive’ and ‘Man I Need’. The crowd erupted into song, singing along with her word for word. This was truly a testament to how much she has grown since her debut, and there is no signs of her stopping.
Ultimately, Olivia Dean’s performance was a masterclass in understated brilliance. She was quietly commanding and heartfelt in a way that connected with her crowd so beautifully. But above all, the show demonstrated how effortlessly she can captivate an arena without ever losing the intimacy that made audiences fall in love with her in the first place.
Words and images by Lucy Thomas
To read more of our gig reviews, click here!