By Alexandra Pullen
Photo Credit: Lola Mansell @lolamansell
Entering Co-op Live to a sea of polka dots, gleaming smiles and a constant humming of Man I Need, a buzz of positivity flew through the streets of Manchester on this sunny Sunday evening. It was the second and final night of Olivia Dean’s sold-out shows at the UK’s largest indoor arena, and just three years ago she was playing Manchester Academy3, with a capacity of approximately 480. Dean’s trajectory has been a brilliant display of her talent, and she has skyrocketed to becoming one of the UK’s most exciting and impressive artists right now.
Before Dean graced the stage on her first arena tour though, support act Jalen Ngonda delivered a warmingly beautiful set. With the most mesmering voice, the American musician, now based in England, blends inspirations from Motown, soul, and R&B to bring to life heavy arrangements and uplifting vocals. His set included Anyone in Love, Doctrine of Love, the titular track from his upcoming album (out on 5th June), and his hit song If You Don’t Want My Love. At just a glimpse into what Ngonda’s live shows entail, it would be difficult to not want more. This Mancunian crowd certainly did; after announcing his final song he was met with a few “boo”’s from the crowd in a clear indication of how much we had loved him. He will return to the UK and Ireland on his Doctrine of Love tour this autumn, and it’s easy to say he is a true force to be reckoned with.
A brief interlude followed, including an impressive turnaround from the crew and a man hoovering the cream carpet who got some cheers from attendees. The atmosphere in the room heightened as the lights began to fade and the silhouette of Olivia Dean pierced through the cream curtains. The set in itself radiated grandeur and elegance, transporting you to something reminiscent of a retro theatre. As the curtains began to open, after The Art of Loving (intro), the singer was already beaming with a smile from ear to ear, her band and backing vocalists in full swing.
Wearing the first of three beautiful outfits, Dean began the show in a floor length, black sequin dress with pastel pink feathers peeking out of the bottom. She opened with a flurry of tracks from her second album The Art of Loving, moving from one to another so seamlessly: Nice to Each Other, Lady Lady, and So Easy (To Fall in Love), where she left her microphone stand and danced joyfully around the stage. She mapped out some ground rules for the evening, “have a good time, enjoy yourself…sing, dance, cry if that feels right for you. Be present.”
Dean built such a connection between herself and her fans, even within a room of 23,500, and at one point specifically pointed out a sign which someone held sharing that they had been supporting her music since 2019. Clearly taken aback by this, Dean sparked a conversation with the fan before expressing such gratitude to everyone in the room that night. She also took quite a bit of time to explain the meanings behind a lot of the songs she played: “[this song is about] learning what love is, realising you deserve love. So if you have an ex, this one’s for your ex,” she shared, before a highlight of the evening – Let Alone The One You Love. The singer, from North London, fused such strong emotions into her delivery, specifically during this song and Close Up, where she seemed angered and lost, accompanied by the former’s sombre piano chords and the latter’s ‘70s ballad groove.
Dean moved on to spotlight her first album, Messy, which she shared is all about ‘trying to be perfect’. The titular track she described as “a lullaby for myself, but also for you” is all about the importance of being yourself, with lyrics “You can let it/It’s okay to regret it/I’m on your side/No need to be ready/It’s okay if it’s messy”.
As she sat back to perform a few more stripped back tracks, Dean was once again overwhelmed by the support she had in the crowd. During UFO, Co-op Live completely lit up with phone flashlights in a truly touching moment, followed by Touching Toes and I’ve Seen It, both only backed by the singer’s guitarist and bassist who have worked with her for some time. An emotional tribute to Dean’s grandma in Carmen sealed the deal, that it would be difficult to keep a dry eye during this show, or at least, prevent a layer of goosebumps from appearing on your skin.
Another highlight of the night was the utterly triumphant 2020 single, Echo, which broke down and concluded in a jamming session with Dean, her backing singers and band came together for a jubilant concoction of song and dance. Shortly after, she moved to her flower-shaped B-stage and also changed into an elegant fully white outfit, performing Loud, A Couple Minutes and The Hardest Part in the middle of a crowd of admiring fans.
Back to the main stage, and a sudden shift to the disco segment of the show, with silver glitterballs reflecting across the stage and entire room, as did Dean’s third outfit of the night: a black, silver and gold sequin dress. Two fan favourites of the night were Baby Steps and Ladies Room, which slotted in perfectly with the more upbeat tracks of her discography, where she seemed to be at a state of ease on stage.
“Did anyone see the Bridget Jones film?” she asked, before picking up her tambourine and jumping headfirst into It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be, from the 2025 film’s soundtrack. Encapsulating grief, love and self-acceptance in a single song, Dean delivered an exquisite rendition with outstretched arms reaching out to her fans. For Dive, she retreated slightly upstage, possibly getting ready to unleash the ultimate performance of her biggest track.
Finally, it was time for Man I Need, the song that had been echoing through the streets of Manchester and the corridors of Co-op Live for hours before Dean took the stage. Whether fans were singing it, filming outfit videos for TikTok to it, or it was plastered on the side of the arena, it was inescapable (completely understandably). With this extended rendition, Dean ended her set just how she started it, with glamour, grace, and terrific vocals and stage presence. And the echoes did not falter after the show either, with many attendees singing their way onto the tram back into Manchester town centre.
In a masterclass of performance, vocals and presence, Olivia Dean turned the UK’s largest indoor arena into a disco, the women’s bathroom and, what felt like an intimate venue, all in one night. Dean is at the top of her game right now, and there’s no stopping her, as she takes her incredible second album The Art of Loving on the road to bring together fanbases worldwide.
What I witnessed at Co-op Live was truly special, and it must be said that Olivia Dean is an artist everybody should try and see live once in their lifetime.
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Text Copyright 2026 © Alexandra Pullen/ADRENALINE Magazine.
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