Olivia Dean's radiant show warms Manchester up for the Brits

Written on 02/27/2026
Edgardo Vázquez


"Dean-o! Dean-o! Dean-o!"

Manchester's Albert Hall echoes to the sound of a football chant - and although the recipient isn't part of England's starting 11, she's definitely a keeper.

We're cheering for Olivia Dean. And she's not sure what to do about it.

"I'm a little embarrassed," she says, as the chants stretch into a third minute, and she tries to calm the crowd down.

"Guys, we'll be here all night."

Maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Dean is one of the biggest musical breakouts of the last 12 months, thanks to her breezily assured second album, The Art Of Loving, whose mix of soul vocals and modern pop draws from a lineage that includes Sade, Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill.

She's playing Manchester two days before the Brit Awards, where she's nominated five times in all the major categories, including artist and album of the year.

For the fans who've endured long, snaking queues to gain entry, she's already assured the win.