Dermot Kennedy Brings Heart and Harmony to Leeds
Article written by and Photos by: Cal Williams
Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy brought his The Weight Of The Woods tour to the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Tuesday night to celebrate the release of his new album.
The stage design perfectly reflected the album’s atmosphere, featuring grass, boulders, and concrete rock steps that made it feel as though the audience had stepped straight into the heart of a woodland landscape.
Before Dermot appeared on stage, excitement filled the arena as fans chanted his name in anticipation, with some shouting “we love you Dermot” while eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Kennedy mentioned that it had been a long time since he last played here and thanked the fans for buying tickets and coming out to the show, saying it meant a lot to him. Throughout the night, he shared several heartfelt stories and reflections that helped create a genuine connection with the audience. One of the moments came when he introduced “Lost”, explaining that it was about someone who doesn't realise just how special they are. Judging by the huge reaction from the crowd, it was clearly one of the fan favourites of the evening, receiving some of the loudest cheers of the night so far.
Before performing “After Rain”, he spoke about how he began busking and eventually made enough money to find his way into the studio to write the song. He explained that it was a song he personally needed at that point in his life. At the end, he asked the audience to sing the line “you won't go lonely” back to him, and they did not disappoint. The entire venue echoed with fans singing the words back to him in unison, creating a truly beautiful and memorable moment.
Following this, he made his way to the B-stage, accompanied by some of the members of his band. This stripped-back section of the show felt much more intimate, with him performing in the middle of the crowd. One of the highlight moments was “Let Me In”, a song about searching for true happiness. The raw emotion in his voice, combined with the crowd singing along, made for a powerful performance. This was followed by “Endless” and “The Weight of the Woods”, another highlight of the night. As a sea of lights swayed from side to side across the venue, it created such a beautiful atmosphere and a special moment to witness.
Dermot then returned to the main stage for the final four songs, which felt like the moment many fans had been eagerly waiting for. The closing run included “Turnstile”, “Better Days”, “Power Over Me” and “Funeral”. Performing some of his biggest hits he had the entire crowd dancing and singing along from start to finish.
Overall, it was a night to remember. His ability to make such a large venue feel intimate, while maintaining a genuine connection with the crowd, was incredibly impressive. If this show was anything to go by then the next tour he does is definitely one you won't want to miss.
