Olivia Dean Across the Atlantic tour
Article written by and photos by Paige May
Last Friday (August 1), Olivia Dean brought her soulful presence to Salt Lake City as part of her US and Canada tour, Across the Atlantic. With just two shows left on the schedule, she performed her 10th set at the more snug and cozy venue, The Soundwell. Initially, I was shocked to find out that the artist was playing at such a small venue, yet in the moment, the close quarters only amplified the experience, drawing the audience into a more personal and heartfelt performance.
The evening opened with a vibrant set from DJ Woody, who warmed up the crowd with a mix of recognizable R&B and soul tracks. Audience members danced, swayed, and sang along, their excitement growing with each familiar tune. As his set progressed, the venue continued to fill, with fans eagerly pressing toward the barricade to claim a closer spot. When DJ Woody wrapped up and the crew took the stage to prepare for the headliner, anticipation buzzed through the room. Each mic check and instrument tuning was met with cheers, the crowd eagerly mistaking every sound for Olivia’s entrance.
Suddenly, the house lights cut to black. In that brief moment of darkness, a wave of ecstatic screams filled the venue. The stage then lit up in warm hues of orange and red as the band members began to emerge. Moments later Olivia Dean graced her way onto the stage, the tune “Nice to each other” playing as crowd members grabbed onto their friends or loved ones with excitement. This was a perfect introduction to her set as the song was upbeat and energetic.
As Olivia continued on with her set, she maintained a fun and charming personality that kept the crowd engaged. She delivered a set rich with emotional depth and relatability, her setlist seamlessly weaving through themes of love, empowerment, and vulnerability. Romantic tracks such as “Touching Toes” and “Danger” leaving the crowd in awe as they transitioned to bold anthems like “Ladies Room” and “Be My Own Boyfriend.” At one point, Olivia paused to share a touching story about her grandmother’s journey to the U.S., a moment that added a personal touch, which transitioned into her playing the song “Carmen.”
Whether you were attending solo or with someone, not a single person stood still. Couples held each other close, and friends belted out lyrics into imaginary microphones, fully immersed in the joy and connection Olivia created onstage.
I couldn’t help but notice that while the recorded versions of her songs are impressive, her live performances took them to another level. Accompanied by a band that leaned heavily into soul and jazz, many songs gained new depth and texture. Some numbers were even slowed down and played softly, allowing the emotion to truly resonate and fill the room.
As her set drew to a close, Olivia wrapped up the night with her hit song, “Dive.” The crowd erupted, singing louder and more passionately than ever before. It was the perfect, electrifying finale to an unforgettable evening.
