Olivia Dean, the recent winner of the “Best New Artist” award at the 2026 Grammy’s, announced her tour The Art of Loving last November. Ever since her album of the same name released, her songs have infiltrated my playlists. Her album is for the hopeless romantics, people who want to romanticize life, or for those who enjoy good instrumentals.
Not many can say this, but I survived the Ticketmaster trenches and snagged tickets to her upcoming tour! As the date gets closer, the more I think about how I will ensure that I have the best, safest time. This article can help anyone who is attending a concert out of state.
MUSIC
Listening to Olivia Dean’s new album is the first step in preparing for her upcoming concert. With any music occasion, listening to the music that you might hear or other songs created by that artist is the easiest way to garner excitement for an event. Here are my song recommendations for those either going to Olivia Dean’s concert OR are interested in listening to a new artist:
- “The Art of Loving” album
- “Live At Eventim Apollo” album
- Olivia Dean YouTube Videos
These albums and videos immerse me into the world of Olivia Dean, making me even more ecstatic when thinking about seeing her live!
Logistics
When ordering tickets, my friends and I decided that going to a tour date that was outside of popular concert venues was the best way for us to guarantee a spot. Unfortunately, the spot we chose is 8 hours away, meaning that we will have to factor in a place to stay overnight, driving time, and logistics.
Reserving a hotel, AirBnB, or VRBO early is important to reduce stress. I have had the best experience renting with VRBO because the room sizes are accommodating and reasonably-priced. Finding a VRBO that is either within walking distance or a short drive to the concert venue is important because, at the end of the day, the concert is the highest priority.
Ensuring that the car used to drive can withstand a 610 mile journey is crucial. Car troubles out of state are expensive, unsafe, and a total vibe killer (speaking from experience here).
Finally, creating a loose itinerary gives structure to upcoming vacations. Planning what days we plan to go out versus stay inside allows us to budget accordingly while also making the most of our trip.
Road Trip necessities
Incorporating pit stops for gas and snacks and creating a playlist is ESSENTIAL for a road trip. Here is a list of the things that are personal must-haves on a car ride that is longer than an hour:
- Portable charger
- Bluetooth headphones/airpods
- Glasses and dramamine (motion sickness girlies rise up)
- Water bottle
- One sweet and one savory snack
- Pillow and/or blanket
Another fun pre-road trip activity is creating a shared playlist with the people you’re riding with. Alternatively, a jam achieves the same effect without added stress of planning ahead. Downloading movies is another activity one can do while trapped in the car.
MONEY
You don’t have to create a full-on budget, but being mindful of saving money before the concert is an important aspect of road trips that I often forget. Even further, keeping track of how you spend your money on vacation is important for after the road trip so you don’t end up extremely broke.
The first thing I suggest is getting a Venmo account (or something similar). This makes it infinitely easier to split checks and pay people back instead of writing it down and inevitably forgetting.
The next thing is to think about what you expect to spend money on. Personally, I see myself spending money on snacks while on the road, concert merch, meals, drinks, and thrifting. After the trip ends, totaling and dividing gas costs is another expected “fee” that I plan on paying. Keeping those finances in mind inspires me to save my money and work even harder to ensure that finances are not a stressor while on vacation.
Day of the concert
Closer to the concert date, visualize how the day of the concert will go. What do you picture yourself needing?
I like to prep my outfits in advance to make sure I feel comfortable and confident in what I am wearing. I want to fit the Olivia Dean “aesthetic” while still being comfortable. I don’t know what I want to wear yet, but here are some nonnegotiables when attending a concert:
- Earplugs
- Sunglasses
- Chapstick
- Small bag
- Comfortable tennis shoes
No matter where I am, I want to make sure that personal ailments like chapped lips, dehydration, or headaches do not ruin my concert experience.
Outside of personal belongings, it is crucial to have your seats and tickets accessible before the concert. There will most likely be a lot of people, so having a strategy for entering the venue, getting merch, and finding your seats before the show is an important step.
Final THOUGHTS
These tips are not required! For me, concerts are a rare opportunity, so I use these tips to make sure that I make the most of it!