Dean Lewis Is A Sensation At Glasgow’s O2 Academy

by | Feb 17, 2025

The atmosphere was filled with love on Valentine’s Day as thousands of fans rushed to Glasgow’s O2 Academy to see Australia’s Dean Lewis play live. The evening was one to remember, full of unfiltered passion, connection, and surprises from the time he took to the stage to the night’s closing bar. Out promoting his third LP – 2024’s The Epilogue – tonight was always going to be something special.

Dean Lewis @ O2 Academy, Glasgow

Dean Lewis @ O2 Academy, Glasgow (Chloe McLelland)
Dean Lewis @ O2 Academy, Glasgow (Chloe McLelland)

The music kicked-off with the immensely gifted, Toronto-hailing Sofia Camara, who enthralled the crowd with her breathtaking set including tunes such as the heartbreaking Who Do I Call Now? and the unreleased Here We Go Again. The crowd’s devotion to this song was demonstrated by the fact that they sang every word, even though it had only been performed a few times. She had fans dancing as she taught them lyrics such as “Here we go, Here we go and We are running too, Running towards the end”. They obviously have the long term in mind, and with her level of talent, she will soon be leading her own UK tour.

Dean Lewis kicked off his roaring set with The Epilogue single Empire, a new opening song for this tour. An amazing atmosphere filled the room as fans of all ages joined in the singing and dancing. If proof were ever needed, it would be the universality of Dean Lewis’ music—let’s hope people don’t actually relate to the lyrics.

The 37-year-old Sydneysider easily connected with both the standing audience and those seated upstairs, making every fan feel seen despite the size of the venue. He handed his microphone to supporters during Keep Me From the Cold, allowing them to keep it while he looked out into the audience in awe. Even in such a space, moments like these gave the event a really intimate feeling.

Fans were bonded by his heartbreaking lyrics and stories, and for nearly every track, a wave of phone lights illuminated the room as they waved their arms. Ironically, individuals have gotten closer as a result of his heartbreaking songs about breakups.

A Scottish flag draped over the microphone, and Lewis himself wrapped it around his shoulders, adding to the poignant ambiance and intimacy of the tour’s lone Scottish performance. His tale was enhanced by the poetic images, which gave each song an even more unvarnished and intimate sense. With his catalogue now three LPs deep, he made room for the first cover of the evening by way of Gracie Abrams’ gorgeous 2024 single That’s So True, before exiting the stage set for what ended up being one of the night’s major surprises. The crowd thought he was taking a change of outfit break, but he soon returned, this time sitting at a little piano on the balcony amongst the seated guests. In the midst of a huge spectacle, he gave spectators in the upper level a unique, private time with a stunning performance of a trio of tunes kicking off with debut LP cut Half A Man,

Early hit Waves was delivered with gusto as the singer returned to the main stage before more from his latest LP was aired by way of All Your Lies. A cover of Goo Goo Dolls’ hit single Iris was delivered with tourmate Sofia Camara returning to the stage in a truly feel-good, singalong moment.

Prior to the final song, How Do I Say Goodbye, which is about his father’s fight with cancer, Lewis also paid a shoutout to his father. Naturally, the audience lit up the Academy with their phone flashlights. Before concluding, he thought about how great it was to be playing in such big arenas, especially since his very first performance was in front of only 100 people. At this point, the rising global star is selling out places like the O2 Academy, one of Glasgow’s top three largest indoor venues, beyond the sizes of venue he’s been achieving in his home country.

Before swiftly returning to an encore of Be Alright, which had supporters singing along and dancing till the conclusion of the night, Lewis left the stage to the boisterous chatter of No Scotland, No Party. Before swiftly returning to an encore of hit 2018 single Be Alright, which had supporters singing along and dancing till the conclusion of what was a rapturous night.

Review and Photography of Dean Lewis at O2 Academy, Glasgow on 14 February 2025 by Chloe McLelland.

Inhaler Breathe In The Open Wide Of London’s O2 Academy Brixton

Pistol Daisys (Matthew Pearson)

Pistol Daisys Embrace The Sweet & Sinister On New Single ‘Honey’ Ahead Of Debut EP And European Tour

Rising Glasgow-based trio Pistol Daisys have returned with their most seductive and sonically ambitious release yet,...
The Sons Of Guns (Cléa Margaret)

The Sons Of Guns Return With Summery New Single ‘I Got It Right’ – A Retro-Tinted Celebration Of Love

Following the success of their debut EP You Shine The Sun, genre-blending five-piece The Sons Of Guns are back with I Got It Right, a radiant new single soaked in sunny ‘70s charm and lyrical optimism. It’s the first taste of new music since the EP’s release, which saw the band earn praise from the likes of BBC Radio London’s Gary Crowley and Eagles Of Death Metal frontmanJesse Hughes, not to mention a career highlight performance at industry showcase Musexpo.

Will Linley (Press)

Will Linley Announces Debut Album ‘Don’t Cry Because It’s Over’ With Reflective New Single ‘First Love’

22-year-old South African alt-pop artist Will Linley has announced the release of his hotly anticipated debut album...
Fatboy Slim @ Latitude Festival 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Latitude Festival 2025 Day Two: Fatboy Slim Flares, Clean Bandit Soar & Leon Bridges Smoulders In The Suffolk Twilight

After Friday’s bask in Suffolk sunshine, Saturday arrived with a greyer palette. The weather quickly turned moody,...
Snooper (Blaire Beamer)

Snooper Announce Bold New Album ‘Worldwide’ And Share Genre-Blending Title Track

Nashville’s chaotic punk experimentalists Snooper have announced their second album Worldwide, due for release on 3rd October via Third Man Records. Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled its lead single and title track — a dizzying, genre-warping evolution of their no-holds-barred sound that signals a bold new era.

Wednesday 13 @ The Asylum, Birmingham (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Middle Fingers And Murderdolls: Wednesday 13 Haunt The Asylum

On a humid July evening in Birmingham, a city still reeling from the recent loss of its heavy metal godfather Ozzy...
Fearless Vampire Killers @ The Asylum, Birmingham (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Fearless Vampire Killers Walk The Line In Ozzy’s Town At The Asylum

Taking to the stage at Birmingham’s Asylum on 26th July, Fearless Vampire Killers delivered a high-energy, theatrical...
The Nocturnal Affair @ The Asylum, Birmingham (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

The Nocturnal Affair Light Up The Asylum, Birmingham Supporting Fearless Vampire Killers & Wednesday 13

There’s something beautifully ironic about a band named The Nocturnal Affair igniting a venue like Birmingham’s Asylum before the sun has even fully set. On a night where gothic grandeur met sweltering heat, the Las Vegas dark rock outfit delivered a set that was as emotionally rich as it was musically explosive, proving themselves more than worthy support for Fearless Vampire Killers and the master of macabre himself, Wednesday 13.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing