About

Dean Betts has spent more than three decades immersed in the live music scene of Geelong and beyond — a career built on craft, collaboration, and a deep love of the song.

Starting out in the vibrant pub and club circuit of the 1990s, Dean cut his teeth playing with some of the region's most respected acts. His time with Rogues & Scholars — where he played keyboard and served as musical director — sharpened his instincts as a performer and arranger, developing the warm, expressive style that would define his sound.

The years with Black & Blue deepened his range — a band that pushed into blues, rock, and soul territory and built a loyal following across Australia. Those nights on stage forged the kind of musicianship that only comes from years of playing rooms large and small.

Today Dean is best known as one half of Big Love Thief, the acoustic duo he formed with longtime collaborator Jason Bull. Together they bring an intimate, unhurried energy to carefully chosen covers — two voices and two guitars finding something greater than the sum of their parts.

Alongside his work with Big Love Thief, Dean remains active as a solo performer and session musician, lending his guitar and vocals to recordings and live projects across the country. Whether on a festival stage, in a vineyard, or in a recording studio, he brings the same quiet authority to every performance.