Olivia Dean opened a run of four sold-out Madison Square Garden shows with a confident, emotionally direct performance that reinforced her rapid rise from support act to arena headliner. Rolling Stone’s review praises her presence, charisma and ability to turn songs about love, change and self-worth into a communal experience for a large New York audience.

The British singer-songwriter performed 24 songs over nearly two hours, beginning with “The Art of Loving”, “Nice to Each Other” and “Lady Lady” from her second album, The Art of Loving. Dean noted that she had supported Sabrina Carpenter at the venue only nine months earlier; since then, she has won a Grammy for Best New Artist and achieved two Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits. Between songs including “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”, “Close Up” and “Let Alone the One You Love”, she offered pointed advice about not accepting love that holds someone back.