Dave Wows London O2 Crowd
British rap star Dave delivered a standout performance at London's O2 Arena — his first hometown show in four years. Reviewers praised his evolution from chart-topping rapper to multifaceted performer, highlighting live musicians and his ability to command the sold-out crowd.
The London dates are part of a larger 39-show international tour called "The Boy Who Played The Harp," which supports his third studio album of the same name. The tour is Dave's first in four years and also includes stops across Europe, North America, and Australia. This tour follows the record-breaking success of his 2023 collaboration with Central Cee, "Sprinter," which became the longest-running No. 1 rap single in UK chart history. His 2022 single, "Starlight," also set records as the longest-running No. 1 solo UK track. For the tour, Dave partnered with fashion brand Stone Island for a custom-made wardrobe for himself and his crew, a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the brand with a musician. A limited-edition collection inspired by the tour's reflective, camouflage-patterned garments was released to the public. The stage production for the O2 shows featured a diamond-shaped stage that extended into the audience, pyrotechnics, and moving video screens. On the opening night in London, Dave was joined by special guest James Blake for the first song, "History." Dave's last major London performance to generate similar buzz was at the 2020 BRIT Awards, where he won Album of the Year for "Psychodrama." During that performance of his track "Black," he added a new verse calling then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson "a real racist," creating a major cultural moment. The 27-year-old artist from Streatham has released two platinum-selling, chart-topping albums prior to "The Boy Who Played The Harp": "Psychodrama" (2019) and "We're All Alone In This Together" (2021). The latter achieved the biggest first-week sales of any UK album in over two years at the time of its release.
