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

Santana (Press)

Carlos Santana Teams Up With Grupo Frontera For Norteño-Rock Fusion ‘Me Retiro’ — Ahead Of UK Tour Dates

Rock legend Carlos Santana has surprised fans yet again—this time by merging his iconic guitar-driven rock sound with...
Blink-182 @ Reading Festival 2024 (Nick Allan)

Reading Festival 2025 Preview: Glitter, Guitars & Glorious Chaos Incoming

Hold on to your bucket hats – Reading Festival 2025 is about to blow the roof off Richfield Avenue from August...

Iggy Pop’s Raw Power Hits Ally Pally

There’s some shows you just can’t miss in good conscience. Iggy Pop, the godfather of punk, last hit the UK for Dog Day Afternoon with Blondie two years ago, and he’s back for a short run of dates. When other punks from the same era are slowing down, settling into nostalgic anniversary shows or stately home summer shows, Pop is sticking to what he knows best: his iconic back catalogue, spread out across a full band, tied together with hypnotic charisma.

Chesney Hawkes (Press)

Chesney Hawkes Announces 2026 ‘Smash It To Pieces’ UK Headline Tour Following A Triumphant Year

Chesney Hawkes, once dubbed the quintessential British pop prince of the early ‘90s, has proved he’s more than just The One And Only. With a creative fire that burns brighter than ever, Hawkes is celebrating a year of musical and personal triumphs as he announces his 2026 Smash It To Pieces UK headline tour — a bold new chapter in a career that continues to evolve far beyond its nostalgic beginnings.

James Morrison (Tom Oxley)

James Morrison Announces Long-Awaited New Album ‘Fight Another Day’, UK Headline Tour This September

BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter James Morrison returns this autumn with his most personal, soul-stirring work to date. His sixth studio album, Fight Another Day, lands on 3rd October 2025, marking his first full-length release in six years — and with it comes a UK headline tour this September, including dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Calva Louise (Henry Calvert)

Calva Louise Walk The Edge Of The Abyss With Cinematic New Single ‘Impeccable’

If the edge of reality had a soundtrack, Calva Louise just wrote it. With new single Impeccable, the genre-fluid...
MJ Lenderman (Shervin Lainez)

Alt-Americana Star MJ Lenderman Begins UK / EU Tour – New Dates Announced

MJ Lenderman has had a whirlwind 12 months. His fourth studio album Manning Fireworks was lauded by critics and made...
People and Atmosphere @ Download Festival 2024 (Simon Reed)

Download XXII: An Era Of Fresh Headliners And Hidden Surprises At Donington

Liquid Death presents Download XXII is almost upon us, so get your battle jackets ready and prepare to raise those...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing