A champion has passed through town, her name is Olivia Dean
At the Fiera Milano space in Rho, just outside the Lombard capital, she performed in concert, in her only Italian date Olivia Dean. Strengthened by having defeated the competition at the recent Brit Awards – the prizes awarded by the British record industry – deserving the award as best artist of the year and best pop artist; for the best album of the year, “The art of loving”, released last September, still occupies a position in the Top Ten of the charts both in Great Britain and in the United States (where it received a Grammy as Best New Artist); for the song of the year, the duet with Sam Fender “Rein me in”, a song that he did not perform in concert. To further reinforce the importance of the 27-year-old London musician in 2026, it can be added that last month she was the ambassador of Record Store Day in the United Kingdom. In short, Rho is a good evening to see live all the good things that are said about Olivia Dean.
The Fiera Milano space is packed, the vast majority of the audience is female and they sang practically every word of every song at the top of their lungs. The British musician ideally divided her show into three parts, making a change of dress for each section. On stage with her are two backing singers, a wind section made up of three elements, plus guitar, bass and piano. The first part of the concert is the most elegant, Olivia manages to transport the sounds most suitable for a club, the most sophisticated ones, closer to jazz-tinged soul in the enormous open space of a summer arena. The public’s reception leaves her speechless, she is sincerely surprised and moved by an embrace that perhaps she wasn’t expecting. He tells those present that the concert is special for at least a couple of reasons: it is his first Italian performance and it is also his mother’s birthday. It seems clear and obvious from the first songs that the girl of Caribbean origin has talent to spare as well as a disarming smile. Love in all its forms is at the center of Olivia Dean’s songs and the concert is its plastic representation. What one assumes when looking at the faces of the audience is pure joy, a happy interlude of just under a couple of hours to be enjoyed to the hilt.
The lights dim, Olivia takes the center of the stage, sits on a chair with a guitar over her shoulder, with the band’s bassist and guitarist at her sides. The club atmosphere underlined by piano and horns suddenly gives way to tones more similar to songwriting. It’s another Olivia Dean, but equally convincing, with “UFO” the live performance becomes acoustic, and we understand why Joni Mitchell is among her musical models. The London artist talks a lot with the audience, presents many of his songs. At a certain point a mirror ball drops from above which foretells what will happen soon, Olivia invites the audience to dance and shows off the most pop side of herself. The group is introduced to the enthralling notes of Curtis Mayfield’s hit “Move on up”, the party continues wildly until the grand finale with the hit “Man I need”.
Olivia Dean conquered Milan, she did it with the quality of the songs from her latest album, “The art of loving”, and her debut album “Messy”. If there could have been any doubt about the value of the London girl, this has been swept away: she has charisma, energy and enthusiasm to spare. His show was well constructed and had no empty passages, he sang about love with the joy and lightness that is due to him. The one at the Fair is to be considered the first Milanese concert of the summer season. The first one was good, actually very good.
Setlist:
The Art of Loving (Intro)
Nice to Each Other
Lady Lady
So Easy (To Fall in Love)
Close Up
Let Alone the One You Love
Messy
UFO
Touching Toes
I’ve Seen It
Carmen
Echo
Time
Loud
A Couple Minutes
The Hardest Part
Baby Steps
Ladies Room
Move On Up (cover by Curtis Mayfield)
OK Love You Bye
It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be
Divas
Man I Need
