Olivia Dean at OVO Hydro, Glasgow – 23rd April (gig review)

Olivia Dean is finally getting her flowers and her recent show at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro perfectly highlighted why she deserves all the praise. Only a few years ago, Dean was performing in King Tut’s to 300 people. Blink and she’s now kicking off her The Art of Loving tour to over 24,000 people after winning a Grammy, 3 MOBO awards, and 4 Brit awards. 

The energy in the room was palpable. We were ready to see the UK’s newest popstar in action. Dean kicked off the night with popular hits off her recent album:  ‘Nice to Each Other’, ‘Lady Lady’, and my personal favourite ‘Baby Steps’ were met with rapturous applause. Her live voice is absolutely flawless, a perfect mixture of smooth and mellow, but she is also able to project through the entire venue.

Significantly, Dean is fairly alone on the stage for the whole performance, only accompanied by her two back-up singers and band. She does not need any distractions, her voice is more than enough to command an audience’s attention.

‘Carmen’, a song dedicated to Dean’s grandmother, was a beautiful, heartfelt standout. She told her grandmother’s story of arriving in the UK as part of the Windrush Generation and the influence she had on her. Her emotions were clear, this gig was a big deal and she was very grateful to be here.

There was a slight lull in the crowd when older songs were being performed. However, the energy really picked up when Dean took a trip to the B stage, singing ‘Loud’ and ‘The Hardest Part’. 

There is no doubt that Olivia Dean is a sensational singer, songwriter and performer. However, there were dips in the crowd’s energy when the less viral songs weren’t being played. It’s a shame because Dean deserves energy for every song, not just the popular Tik Tok ones. As is the same with every artist who has boomed in popularity thanks to the app, it will be interesting to see what Dean does next and how she holds on to people’s attention. 

I know, for sure, that she will continue to grab my attention with her unique blend of soul, pop fun and infectious personality. I had so much fun dancing along, singing my heart out and admiring her beautiful outfits, the show felt very classic with a twist of modern flair.

Even after Dean left the stage, the crowd were still singing her songs. A testament to her brilliance. Olivia Dean showed Glasgow ‘The Art of Loving’ and we loved her in return.

Image credit: Gwen Trannoy