RECAP: GIVEON BRINGS 'DEAR BELOVED, THE TOUR' TO VANCOUVER

Backspin Canada
Oct 4
3 min read

Giveon made his return to Vancouver on October 2nd for the second stop of his 'Dear Beloved, The Tour', performing at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena. This marked only his second-ever performance in the city, following his 2022 debut at the Malkin Bowl. His presence this time around felt elevated and refined, a reflection of how far his artistry has come since then.

Photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin HQ

The North American run began the night before in Seattle, kicking off a 22-date stretch that will take Giveon through San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta before wrapping up in New York City on November 6. Vancouver was the first Canadian date, and fans showed up in force, filling the arena with an atmosphere that felt both romantic and reverent.

The show began with a cinematic opening. Giveon stepped onto the stage draped in a long faux fur coat over a tailored black suit, standing in front of a white curtain that framed him in a halo of light. His baritone filled the room from the first note, and when the curtain lifted for the second song, it revealed the full stage, a minimalist yet luxurious setup that mirrored his sound.

Behind him, a wall of pleated drapery glowed softly under subtle backlighting, giving the stage the intimacy of an old soul club but the grandeur of a film set. His band, dressed in neutral suits, stood slightly elevated behind him, complementing the look without stealing attention. Every movement, every lighting cue, felt deliberate, simple yet deeply expressive.

The set opened with ‘MUD’ and ‘RATHER BE,’ two songs that immediately showcased Giveon’s ability to command silence between words. The crowd hung on every lyric, breaking into applause at his slightest vocal run. ‘The Beach’ and ‘Still Your Best’ followed, both reminders of the emotional weight that made him one of R&B’s most captivating new voices.

‘Chicago Freestyle,’ the song that first introduced him to a global audience alongside Drake, drew one of the loudest reactions of the night. Fans sang every word while Giveon smiled through the verse that changed his career. He followed it with ‘dec 11th’ and ‘Lost Me,’ before moving into ‘Favorite Mistake,’ which had couples swaying in the aisles.

As the show continued, Giveon played with contrast, mixing heartbreak and warmth, vulnerability and control. During ‘Garden Kisses,’ he invited a fan on stage, turning the song into a tender duet that had the whole crowd cheering. Later, he shifted into the heavier emotional territory of ‘DIAMONDS FOR YOUR PAIN’ and ‘KEEPER,’ his vocals echoing over sparse instrumentation that filled the space with quiet intensity.

Each song unfolded like a short film. ‘Like I Want You’ and ‘Stuck on You’ carried the audience through waves of nostalgia, while ‘AVALANCHE’ and his cover of Teddy Swims’ ‘Are You Even Real’ showed his versatility and reverence for modern R&B peers. The final act of the night featured ‘I CAN TELL,’ ‘TWENTIES,’ and ‘For Tonight,’ all met with hushed awe and collective singing from thousands of voices.

For the finale, Giveon closed with ‘HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY,’ the song that defined his early years and continues to anchor his live shows. The arena erupted in harmony, his voice blending with thousands who had lived through the same heartbreaks his lyrics describe. It was both intimate and cinematic, the kind of closing that lingers after the lights fade.

The crowd was emotional rather than explosive. Instead of jumping or moshing, fans leaned forward, recorded quietly, or simply stood still, fully locked into the atmosphere he created. The arena’s acoustics carried every low note perfectly, giving the performance a warmth rarely found in larger venues.

From his look to his pacing, Giveon treated Vancouver to a performance that felt timeless. His minimal staging and deliberate movements gave every song room to breathe, while his voice proved just as commanding live as it is on record.

The Dear Beloved Tour has only just begun, but if Vancouver was any indication, Giveon is entering a new era of artistry. Refined, cinematic, and emotional, this was a night that reminded everyone why he’s one of R&B’s defining voices of the decade.

Upcoming Tour Dates

October 1 – Seattle, WA

October 2 – Vancouver, BC

October 4 – San Francisco, CA

October 7 + 8 – Los Angeles, CA

October 11 – Las Vegas, NV

October 12 – Phoenix, AZ

October 14 – Dallas, TX

October 15 – Houston, TX

October 18 – Atlanta, GA

October 20 + 21 – Chicago, IL

October 23 – Detroit, MI