LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: JACKSON DEAN AT THE O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, LONDON 24/04/25
Full photo gallery here
Tonight the cowboy booted crowd was treated to a healthy dose of country music from Nashville, Tennessee in the form of Jackson Dean at the iconic venue of the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London for his ‘On The Back of My Dreams’ tour.
Opening the night was London-based Our Man in the Field, bringing the Country energy early with a sound that blends folk and Americana, for about 30 minutes of soulful vocals and rich, groovy musical landscapes, well in line with the headliner’s spirit. While the venue was still filling, those already in were fully present—leaning in, listening close and taking all the energy that was coming from the 7-member band performing on stage, perfectly setting the stage for Jackson Dean’s raw Southern grit to follow.
The London audience was electric with anticipation as Nashville singer-songwriter Jackson Dean took the stage under deafening applause and kicked off the evening with his newest song release ‘Still Ragin’’, followed by ‘Duct Tape Heart’ and ‘Trailer Park’, driven by wild guitars and percussion, both filling the room with endless energy that would set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Known for his raw, gritty vocals, compelling songwriting, and electrifying live performances, the 24-year old has been an emerging talent in the country music scene for the last couple of years, with a breakout in 2022 with the single “Don’t Come Lookin’,” which became the fastest debut to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart that year, making him the youngest solo male country artist to top the chart with a debut single. Since then, the country musician went on to release two studio albums, his latest On the Back of My Dreams (2024), at the centre stage tonight, further solidified his reputation.
Fans sang along and swayed as Dean performed through a carefully curated setlist, from his 2022 album Greenbroke’s highly popular ‘Fearless’, and powerful ‘1971’ to his latest release catalogue with the folk-rock ‘Train’, the energetic ‘Jane’, from which the album title On The Back Of My Dreams is derived, and the emotional fan favourite ‘Heavens To Betsy’. The London crowd was also treated to a couple of brand new songs, with an exclusive live debut of ‘Be Your Man’, set to be released on May 9 followed by ‘Hey Mississippi’.
Emotion-fuelled vocals and electrifying energy were a perfect match to captivate the audience from start to finish. There’s something unforgettable about a voice that hits you right in the gut - and Jackson Dean delivered that in spades. He also took time to connect with the audience, thanking everyone in the room for being there. “Be careful what you wish for, you might get them” said Dean in one of his many streams of consciousness before introducing his song ‘Real Real’.
As the performance went on, more songs from Greenbroke and On the Back of My Dreams were showcased in full force with ‘Wings’ and ‘Sweet Appalachia’, with Dean also offering a rendition of ‘49 Tons of Diesel Locomotives’ by Fred Eaglesmith. Then followed an obligatory performance of the absolute crowd favourite ‘Don’t Come Lookin’’ which was the moment energy reached its peak, lyrics belted out from every corner of the room, before Dean and his band escaped in the shadows. The musicians came back moments later to perform the encore with ‘Heaven’ and ‘Another Century’, before saying goodbye to the London crowd, making a great ending to a perfect evening.
Dean delivered about 80 minutes of endorphin boosts, cementing his status as one of country music’s rising stars without any doubt. His faultless vocals never wavered and the musician kept the audience captivated throughout the entire performance with his strong music skills and charismatic stage presence.
With a distinctive voice and authentic approach to songwriting, Jackson Dean continues to make significant strides in country music, resonating with fans seeking genuine and heartfelt artistry. But Jackson Dean isn’t just a rising star, he’s a powerful force in country music, and if this performance is any indication, his trajectory is only going up.
Words: Florelle Servageon
Photos: Eva Grant
Full setlist below:
Still Ragin’
Duct Tape Heart
Trailer Park
Fearless
1971
Real Real
Be Your Man
Hey Mississippi
Train
Jane
Heaven To Betsy
Wings
49 Tons of Diesel Locomotive
Sweet Appalachia
Don’t Come Lookin’
Heaven
Another Century
