Dermot Kennedy at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena
On 1st June, Dermot Kennedy brought his The Weight of the Woods tour to Cardiff’s Utilita Arena. The last time I attended a concert at this venue was when I saw J. Cole perform there in 2017, so it was refreshing to return and experience another live show in the arena.
This was my fifth time seeing Dermot perform live, and it has been surreal to witness the growth of his career over the years. When I first saw him, he was playing smaller UK venues such as Electric Bristol (formerly SWX). Now, he is selling out arenas like the Utilita Arena in Birmingham and Cardiff. Not only has the size of the venues changed, but the overall concert experience has evolved too, thanks to the larger production budgets that come with his success.
The tour followed the release of Dermot’s third studio album, The Weight of the Woods, which shares its name with the tour itself. From start to finish, the show was a visual spectacle. The presentation and backdrops perfectly complemented the aesthetic of the new album. Throughout the performance, the visuals transitioned through different seasons depending on the song being played, all while remaining rooted in a woodland setting. Whoever designed the visuals did an exceptional job.
Dermot is one of those musicians who doesn’t need elaborate production to captivate an audience. His voice and songwriting are more than enough. Hearing him perform live is always remarkable; his voice is every bit as powerful and emotive as it is on record. The storytelling within his songs demonstrates why he is one of the finest songwriters and storytellers in modern music. Each song takes the listener on a journey.
The arena was packed, and the crowd ranged from young children to older adults. One elderly couple in particular caught my attention. They must have been in their seventies or eighties, yet they were enjoying every moment of the performance. It was refreshing to see people of their age embracing modern musicians and continuing to support live music. It was genuinely inspiring.
Before Dermot performed The Weight of the Woods, members of the audience were handed small pieces of green paper with instructions to hold them over their phone flashlights during the song. As the performance began, the entire arena transformed into a glowing scene that resembled fireflies illuminating a woodland at night. It was a beautiful and memorable moment.
I’m incredibly grateful that someone recommended Dermot’s music to me all those years ago, before he had even released his debut album. Had they not done so, I would have missed the opportunity to witness his artistic journey and growth firsthand. More importantly, I would have missed out on discovering one of the most talented musicians of his generation.
Artists like Dermot are rare. Despite his success and growing fame, he remains grounded, humble, and approachable. He comes across as a genuinely down-to-earth person, and he is just as emotionally articulate when speaking to his audience as he is when performing his songs. That authenticity is a large part of what makes him such a special artist to watch live.
