Jackson Dean – On The Back Of My Dreams – European Tour // Colin Graham // Live Review // The Limelight // Belfast
Once again, we find ourselves back at the home of music in Belfast’s city centre, The Limelight Belfast, for a fantastic night of country ahead. Jackson Dean is in town supporting his 2024 release, On The Back Of My Dreams, and tonight is the last of his UK tour dates, so I am sure he will want to sign off on a high.
In support, we have local Artist Colin Graham, who was caught recently supporting Cory Kent in this very venue. Colin is one of those salt-of-the-earth characters who live and breathe his music, keeping it country and relevant as he sings of issues important to him as a local rural lad. Speaking up for the farming community and the importance of the work they do. He always goes down well with the local audience, and tonight is no different at all as he whets the appetite of all in the room for a great night’s music.
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8:30 sharp, and the lights drop as Jackson’s band takes the stage. Kicking into the opening track until Jackson swaggers out, drink in hand. You know right there, right then this one is going to be a par-tay!!! Belfast is going to be in for a treat! They get stuck right in with “Still Raging” and then “Duct Tape” as Jackson warns the fans tonight’s going to be a messy one, so they better strap themselves in! He’s not wrong, with a seriously tasty five-piece band, they absolutely slay their set live. Every one of them commanding the stage as they unleash a collection of tracks to make your mouth water. By the time “Trailer Park” ends, it means my time up close and personal with the band is over, and I exit the pit to stand further back and take in Jackson’s set in all its glory.
The band are absolutely on fire and Belfast is loving their vibe, Jackson’s swagger grows with each song, and he’s boogying with the guitarist and bassist every chance he can, the man’s got moves, let me tell ya! It’s been a hot one today, probably the hottest day of the year so far in Ireland and the heat coming off the stage is not helping! But we’ll not complain as things are what we signed up for, quality music, quality feels and the company of a like-minded community and here for one thing, a good time!
Jackson’s soundtrack is varied and keeps his audience on their toes and entertained. The ladies are dancing, arms in the air, and the gents are trying desperately to keep up with them. The cowboy hats are out in force, and everyone is singing along as best they can. You wouldn’t think this was a school night gig in Belfast city centre, but more like a celebration of country music at its height. Jackson’s command of the stage allows for his soaring vocals to shine and his band’s glorious sonic mastery to shine.
The band rolled through some fourteen odd songs before playing a two song encore to wrap up a fantastic nights music, taking s through songe from his debut ‘Greenbroke’ and his latest offering ‘On The Back Of My Dreams’ he has shows his growth musically and has teased us for what is to come, a trailblazer in the modern day country scene Jackson will certainly be one to watch as he hits stratospheric heights.
More information, including tour dates, can be found at https://www.jacksondeanmusic.com/.
Photography: Mark McGrogan
ABOUT JACKSON DEAN:
One of Nashville’s most intriguing artists with his strong gravel-toned vocals, wayward spirit, intentional songwriting and overall mystique, the fast-rising singer/songwriter Jackson Dean is quickly earning a reputation for his impressive live show and thought-provoking, lyric-driven music. The young talent burst on the scene in 2022, showing people how real music can be with his atmospheric, musically-forward debut album Greenbroke that featured his debut single, “Don’t Come Lookin’” (which became the fastest debut to reach No. 1 in 2022 and cemented Jackson as the youngest solo male Country artist to reach the top of the charts with a debut) and his Top 10 follow up single “Fearless (The Echo).” The demand for Jackson skyrocketed after landing on Pandora’s Ten for 2023 (all genre), Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch 2023, Apple Music’s Country Risers, the CMT Listen Up class of 2023, CRS New Faces 2023, Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch: Country Class as well as a slew of other artist to watch lists and nominations. A vocalist who truly thrives on stage (as evident in his Live From The Ryman album), the Maryland native has leaned hard into touring, wowing audiences and building a passionate fanbase that connects on a deeper level. Because of that connection and crowd passion, his live show stand out “Heavens to Betsy” has evolved to become his latest single—and lead track from his forthcoming sophomore album On The Back Of My Dreams, ( now available via Big Machine Records).
Embarking on an impressive and bold new chapter, the 23-year-old old soul recently delivered a textured, experiential body of work, that is layered in meanings, giving listeners plenty to ruminate on. Each song, born from a daydream vision, together takes you on an emotional journey and completes the concept of the album: Jackson Dean is a man dreaming of truly living—and truly living that dream. The multi-instrumentalist and skilled artisan whose pastimes include making leather goods, wood-burned art and disappearing into the woods to sleep under the stars, brings a sense of adventure to his craft. Constructing big transcendental, swelling songs that demand an equally bone-shaking vocal performance, across On The Back Of My Dreams, Dean delivers an aspirational and captivating vocal performance that is striking, distinctive and stimulating, with both swagger and intellect.
Following an early career of local performances in his hometown, Jackson has joined bills with superstar acts like Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Kane Brown, Jake Owen, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Brice, HARDY and Brothers Osborne and found himself on the bill for credible events like Austin City Limits and Stagecoach. The young talent recently wrapped big tours with Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Jon Pardi as well as his first headlining tour (Head Full of Noise Tour) and is on tour with Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson this summer.