Irish singer Dermot Kennedy performs comeback show in Perth

Concert
Dermot Kennedy: The Weight of the Woods Tour
Kings Park, Perth, November 14, 2026
★★★★½

Irish singer, songwriter Dermot Kennedy kicked off the Australian leg of his The Weight of the Woods tour at Kings Park on Saturday night, after vocal cord strain forced him to cancel part of his US tour last month.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands, Kennedy said he nearly did not make it to the stage in his come-back show – the first in five weeks since being diagnosed with laryngitis and repeated bouts of influenza.

“I truly, I don’t feel like an irrational person, and I truly, truly did not know if I’d be able to do this, so I’m very, very glad, and I’m happy you’re here,” he said.

“A long time ago, I would say, maybe 10 years, 12 years, ago, my sister lived in Fremantle, she was a doctor here.

“My mum and me visited her while she was here, and I remember we spent the day here in this park back then, and it was at a time when me doing this, playing music to this many people, was quite a laughable thing, still is, so thank you so much for making this happen.

“I’m not joking when I said two hours ago I really didn’t know if I could do this, and so, I feel very lucky to do it here, this place is incredible.”

The 34-year-old, at times solo, and at other times accompanied by a four-piece band and back-up singers, kicked off the first show of the Australian leg of his tour, with Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide also on the itinerary.

The crowd sang along as he belted out hits including Outnumbered, Let Me In, Better Days and Power Over Me during a 90-minute set.

At times he held back on his gritty vocals, but still delivered an incredible performance, with the crowd chanting ‘Ole, Ole, Ole’ to him, which is the unofficial Irish national anthem, and a tradition at Irish concerts.