As part of an exclusive series with Aloft Hotels, Dermot Kennedy touched down in his hometown to deliver a short but superb live set on Wednesday.
Following his rocketing rise to fame this year, Dermot Kennedy treated his homeland to a surprisingly intimate this week. As part of the Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour, Kennedy made a brief detour on his current headline tour to perform at the Aloft hotel in the Libertines, Dublin. The performance, which held no more than a hundred or so people, showcased a stunning blend of the artist’s talents: poignant lyrics, soaring vocals, and undeniable charm.
As part of the Homecoming Tour series, Aloft endeavors to bring artists back home to the locations that were essential in making them who they are today, while treating fans to intimate and immersive experiences with the hometown headliners. In Dublin, the top floor of the venue boasted panoramic views of the city, while some treats included a throwback photo booth with vintage streetwear, funky retro cocktails, free digital portraits, and unique artist goodies.
After a casual and quiet greeting, Kennedy kicked off the set with his recent album’s opening track An Evening I Will Not Forget before moving swiftly into its second track All My Friends. From the first note, the artist captivated the crowd with his songs – many audience members sang not only the lyrics, but also several parts of the backing tracks – along with his honesty. At several points, Kennedy shared the stories behind his major hits such as Outnumbered and Power Over Me. He revealed music “born out of frustration,” talked about how his messages meant for one person have been “translated to a mad amount of people,” and murmured a low “thank you” when the crowd sang along without him.
Due to ticketing issues, Kennedy was due to run across town to The Academy to perform a second show and so, the night ended after a sampling of songs. Closing out the set, the artist stated his hopes to be home sooner rather than later – he would be in Cologne the next morning, ready to perform again – then dipped off stage. Although his performance was short, I imagine it will be an evening many will not forget.
For more information on Dermot Kennedy, including upcoming tour dates, visit his website here.
For more information on the Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour, visit their website here.
