Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Dermot Kennedy announces his third album, The Weight of the Woods, out March 27th on Island/Interscope Records. The album news is accompanied by the release of the lead single “Funeral” and its stunning music video starring Charlie Rowe and directed by Charlie Sarsfield. The rousing, victorious track premiered last night as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record.
The Weight of the Woods is the organic cultural intersection between Dermot’s native Ireland and Nashville, home to the album’s producer Gabe Simon [Noah Kahan, Lana Del Rey]. Simon stole away to Ireland for six weeks tapping into an uncanny collaborative energy with Dermot, where most of the album was written and recorded in a studio down the road from Dermot’s home. As part of the process, Kennedy and Simon also decamped to Gabe’s studio in Nashville. ‘The end result is Dermot’s most self-assured work to date, with deeply poetic lyrics and authentic musicality drawing inspiration, energy, and strength from his strong Irish roots.
“To me, the album is a beautiful homegrown thing with Irish instruments and an Irish story. There’s a forest behind my house, which is a haven for my sense of wonder. It’s a peaceful place where I can escape. I’ve entertained the idea of living somewhere else, but I don’t think I’d be happy anywhere else.”
With a refreshed approach to his songwriting and production, Dermot has peeled away the layers to let his stunning voice shine through. He explains, “If I get up in a pub with just a guitar or a piano, I’m certain that I can sing to a room full of people. It’s where I’m the most comfortable. I wanted that element to be front-and-center on this album.” The Weight of the Woods blends traditional folk textures, with hints of country influence and soaring melodies that linger long after first listen.
Known for his passionate and powerful live performances, Kennedy has graced the stages of such iconic venues as London’s O2 and New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In May and June, he headlines his largest tour to date across Europe before a run of six UK arena shows, including a return to London’s O2 on June 5th. In July, Dermot returns home for two headline shows at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, the home of Irish Rugby. North American dates will be announced soon.
Other recent live events for Dermot include intimate, stripped back tours of Europe, the UK and North America, a special half-time performance at Soccer Aid Match in Manchester, and memorable shows with GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Zach Bryan at London’s British Summer Time Festival and Indiana’s famed Notre Dame Stadium. Dermot also launched MISNEACH, a new annual global music festival conceived and curated by Dermot himself, celebrating Ireland’s rich musical heritage and culture.
Photo credit: Silken Weinberg.
EUROPE AND UK HEADLINE TOUR 2026
May 11 – Copenhagen, Denmark, Falkonersalen – SOLD OUT
May 12 – Stockholm, Sweden, Annexet
May 14 – Hamburg, Germany, Barclays Arena
May 15 – Berlin, Germany, Max-Schmeling-Halle
May 17 – Zurich, Switzerland, Halle 622
May 18 – Paris, France, L’Olympia
May 20 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Rockhal
May 21 – Brussels, Belgium, Forest National
May 23 – Munich, Germany, Zenith
May 24 – Vienna, Austria, Gasometer
May 26 – Dusseldorf, Germany, Mitsubishi Electric Halle
May 27 – Amsterdam, Netherlands, AFAS Live
May 29 – Glasgow, UK, OVO Hydro
May 30 – Manchester, UK, AO Arena
Jun 1 – Cardiff, UK, Utilita Arena
Jun 2 – Leeds, UK, First Direct Bank Arena
Jun 4 – Birmingham, UK, Utilita Arena
Jun 5 – London, UK, The O2
July 11 – Dublin, Ireland, Aviva Stadium – SOLD OUT
July 12 – Dublin, Ireland, Aviva Stadium