This week the Aussie singer Dean Lewis was in the UK for his Sad Boi Winter/Summer tour and on Tuesday 18th October he was at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town. 

Known for his soul crushing, heartbreak ballads ‘Waves’, ‘Be Alright’ and most recently blowing up TikTok with ‘How Do I Say Goodbye’, Lewis was here to make them hurt us even more live and he did just that. 

On a dark stage lit with warm white and blue lights – depending on whether the song was sad enough to make you sob or a little happier, keeping your cheeks dry for a moment – Lewis stood with his guitar and sang. With just a drummer and bassist, they performed most of his discography with more emotion and power than in any studio recording. 

His raw vocals combined with the electricity of the audience was magical. When he asked everyone to clap along to his song ‘Hold of Me’ and sang almost acapella to the audience’s beat, the small room came alive. 

Emotions ran high when he took to his piano for some of his most painful songs – telling us the backstory of how he had written it about a girl he met on his last trip to London. The girl clearly shattered his heart and knowing the truth behind the song as he bitterly laughed about it, wounded you even deeper.

Lewis’ concert was an intimate experience where everyone was allowed to feel everything. It was a safe place to sing, cry and dance along while he spilled his own feelings into every word he sang. You could feel the passion in the atmosphere. 

Dean Lewis will be back in London in March 2023, singing songs from his new album, ‘The Hardest Love’, which will be released on November 4th, 2022. 

Writing: Summer Rogers | Subbing: Kiefer Jones| Image: Summer Rogers