‘Never seen anything like it’: The unusual sight at Olivia Dean’s Sydney concert

Review: Last night, thousands upon thousands of polka dots lined the streets of Sydney and tonight, they’re set to take over the town again.

The print has become something of an unofficial dress code for one of the biggest concerts of the year and I wasn’t about to miss out.

I donned my polka-dot best and joined more than 20,000 adoring fans to see British soul-pop sensation Olivia Dean perform her first of two sold-out Sydney shows.

For those out of the loop, the 27-year-old singer sparked a viral fashion trend after wearing a string of polka-dot outfits on stage, which inspired fans to use the print as their own concert uniform. I’ve never seen anything like it. 

Having the inside scoop, my outfit was planned well in advance. Because if there’s one thing the girls are going to discuss before a big night out, it’s the dress code and I’m not one to disregard its sanctity. 

Nobody was going to Rein Me In as I, alongside what felt like literally thousands of polka dots, swarmed Sydney Olympic Park to see the woman herself.

And while I was accompanied by a man (sorry all, he was the Man I Need(ed) and a huge fan), it was abundantly clear the girls were out in full force.

Read more

Meet Olivia Dean: The style-savvy newcomer making waves in music and fashion

Never have I felt such a strong sense of girlhood at a concert. There were trios of best friends in front of me, sisters behind me and mother-daughter duos to my side.

There’s a reason one of the best-selling pieces of merchandise reads “I don’t need a boyfriend”.

But before Dean took to the stage, Australian singer Kaiit had the job of warming up the crowd, treating us to her soulful, jazz-infused sound.

She set the mood beautifully and by the time the lights went down for the main act, the anticipation was almost unbearable, especially for the very cute pair of primary-school-aged girls behind me. 

Then came the screams.

Dean appeared on stage, shouting “SYDNEY” to a deafening reception before launching into her hit Nice To Each Other.

Within seconds, the crowd was singing along to every single word.

The British star is touring her hugely successful second album, The Art of Loving, which has as she said, changed her life “in every way possible” by catapulting her into the spotlight with hits including Man I Need, So Easy (To Fall In Love) and A Couple Of Minutes. 

As the name suggests and Dean explains, the album explores love in all its many forms, from the excitement of falling for someone to the less glamorous business of picking yourself back up when it all goes south. 

Dean’s music isn’t just about romantic relationships. There’s plenty about friendship, family and learning to love yourself, too.

When I took a look around the arena, it was glaringly obvious why her music had struck such a chord.

While there was lots of love in the room, there was also a fair bit of heartbreak.

I watched as women were propped up by their friends, arms wrapped around shoulders as songs like Something Inbetween and Baby Steps hit a little too close to home.

Others were dancing without a care in the world and there were adorable 10-year-old’s belting out the lyrics with the sort of passion that suggested they’d somehow lived through every word.

It was a truly heartwarming and intimate thing to experience, especially in such an enormous crowd. 

Of course, there was plenty of glitz and glamour too.

Disco balls, costume changes, sequins and heels were all part of the spectacle, with Dean showing off her style best.

What impressed me most wasn’t just the A-class outfits or the production. It was just how much care she seemed to put into the music itself.

Her voice is extraordinary live, somehow sounding even more rich and effortless than it does on the recordings, even while she’s dancing around the stage at full power in heels.

Instead of letting her band fade into the background as I have seen done many times, Dean made a point of celebrating the musicians who helped bring the incredible show to life.

At one point, she dedicated an entire section to introducing the band, giving each member their own moment to show off their talents while her backing singers echoed their names and instruments.

It was a small detail, but one that made the whole performance feel more personal.

The night also slowed down for some of the older songs from her debut album, Messy, with thousands of phone torches lighting up the arena.

For a moment, it was easy to forget just how many people were packed into the room.

Dean has somehow managed to turn songs about the most personal, occasionally painful parts of being human into something more than 20,000 people can experience together.

There were tears, plenty of dancing and a frankly impressive amount of polka dots.

I went in expecting a great concert from an artist I love and I left with an even greater appreciation for her music and the people who share my adoration for it.

And if you’re heading to see her tonight, don’t forget to wear your polka dots!