Olivia Dean at the Co-op Live: A Masterclass in the Art of Loving

Polka dots, gorgeous merch, sunset over Manchester and a room full of supportive and smiling, devoted fans: literally what more could you ask for on a Sunday night? 

The second and final night of Olivia Dean’s sold-out shows at the UK’s largest indoor arena marked a scale up from her intimate shows in 2023, with capacity under 500. Yet, despite the scale, I think it’s fair to say that Olivia delivered a masterclass in connection, and the Art of Loving. 

Dean opened the show with a flurry of songs from her newest album: The Art of Loving (Intro), Nice to Each Other, Lady Lady, and So Easy (To Fall in Love), immediately setting the tone for the evening. She also took time to explain before each song, a bit about what inspired her to write it, or what that song in particular means to her; this transformed a 23,500-capacity arena into something that felt closer to a late-night conversation than a headline show. 

That intimacy is central to Dean’s appeal. Her music meets people where they are, expanding the idea of love beyond romance to include friendship, family, and self-worth. At one point, she gently urged the crowd to “fall in love with yourself,” followed by "So Easy ("To Fall in Love). She then shifted back to her debut album Messy, to bring a more reflective tone to the night, describing the title track as a kind of lullaby to herself: “no need to be ready, it’s okay if it’s messy”. Later, Carmen served as a moving tribute to her grandmother, who moved to England at 18, while UFO unfolded against a sea of phone lights; there can’t have been a dry eye in the arena. 

Halfway through the set Dean closed any distance left in the area, stepping off the main stage and making her way through the crowd to a smaller, intimate platform in the middle of the standing area. Here she performed Loud, A Couple Minutes and The Hardest Part, surrounded by fans. This was a standout moment: stripped back, warm, but so unbelievably powerful, it really did feel like being let into something so personal. 

Back to the main stage, and a sudden shift to the upbeat, disco segment of the show. She performed two fan favourites of the night: Baby Steps and Ladies Room, which worked in beautiful harmony one after the other, followed by a cover of Move On Up, which was quite possibly the most perfect pick. 

Then, finally, it was time for Man I Need, which had already been heard echoing through Manchester all evening. Her extended live performance brought everyone in the arena together, for one last special rendition. Accompanied by pink confetti, this was easily one of the specialist moments of the night.

After the last note, the curtains closed, but that wasn’t enough for the Manchester fans, with her chorus carrying on all the way out the arena, onto the trams and into the city it was, simply, a special night, the kind of feeling you wish you could bottle and pass onto anyone who might need it!

Written by, Sophie Robinson