Olivia Dean Delivers a Masterclass in Soul, Style and Star Power in Brisbane
On the final Australian night of her sold-out Art of Loving Tour, Olivia Dean delivered a dazzling celebration of soul, friendship and romance — and the kind of performance that suggests even bigger things are just around the corner.
There are moments in an artist’s career when you sense you’re witnessing something special. Not simply a great concert, but the arrival of a performer who could become one of the defining stars of their generation. Olivia Dean’s sold-out show at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Tuesday night was one of those moments.
Playing the final Australian date of her Art of Loving Tour, before heading across the Tasman for a stadium show in New Zealand, the British singer-songwriter delivered a performance that was equal parts sophisticated, soulful and gloriously uplifting. For nearly two hours, Dean held a packed arena in the palm of her hand.
The evening began with Dean appearing in silhouette behind a giant curtain, opening with “The Art of Loving”. When the curtain finally opened, there she was, flanked by a magnificent band and launching into the irresistible pop-soul of “Nice to Each Other”. It was a thrilling opening statement.
The first half of the show unfolded in a rush of top-tier crafted songs. “Lady Lady”, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” and “Close Up” were early highlights, while “Touching Toes” was a standout.
If there’s a secret to Dean’s appeal, it might be her ability to make the personal feel universal. Her songs explore the complexities of love without succumbing to cynicism or sentimentality. There’s heartbreak, certainly, but also optimism, humour and the understanding that love takes many forms.
Throughout the evening, Dean returned to the subject with disarming candour. Romantic love was part of the conversation, but so too was the love between friends, the relationships that sustain us and the importance of recognising affection wherever we find it.
Between songs, Dean was chatty, funny and seemingly at ease. Appearing genuinely delighted to be there, and the feeling was mutual.
Musically, the show was a triumph. Her exceptional band — featuring drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, a horn section and two backing vocalists — gave the arrangements warmth, muscle and sophistication. There were moments when the music recalled the understated elegance of Sade, the glamour and pop instincts of Diana Ross and, occasionally, the sheer physical exuberance of Tina Turner.
Dean shares something else with those artists: an instinctive understanding of how to inhabit a song. Her voice can be tender and conversational one moment, then soar with extraordinary authority the next. And she does it all while navigating the stage in high heels!
Midway through the evening came a particularly lovely change of pace. At the rear of the arena, a smaller B-stage allowed Dean to perform a stripped-back sequence that included “A Couple Minutes” and “The Hardest Part”.
It was a reminder that beneath the arena-sized spectacle is an artist who could just as easily command a small room with nothing more than a microphone and a handful of songs.
The return journey to the main stage took her through the audience. By this point, the atmosphere inside the Entertainment Centre was electric.
Back with the band, “Baby Steps” and “Ladies Room” provided further highlights before a spirited rendition of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” turned the arena into a soul revue. It was a brilliant choice of cover, allowing the musicians to stretch out and reminding everyone of the musical tradition from which Dean draws so much inspiration.
“OK Love You Bye” was another delight, its conversational charm and melodic brilliance illustrating just how effortlessly Dean can turn everyday emotional exchanges into memorable pop songs.
And then came “Man I Need”.
As a closing statement, it was close to perfect. It’s one of those songs that seems destined to follow an artist for the rest of their career.
A few years ago, Taylor Swift played the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at a point when her career was accelerating towards something considerably bigger. Watching Dean on Tuesday night brought back a similar feeling: the sense of witnessing an artist on the threshold of greatness, someone whose next visit may well require a significantly larger room.
Sean Sennett