Dermot Kennedy at the O2 Arena

There’s a sense of wonderment in the room on a Friday at London’s O2 Arena. That is, for both Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy and the 20,000-strong audience who have followed his career for the past decade or so. The stage is adorned with a moody forest glow, trunk-like pillars and moss-draped steps as the seven-piece band and singer bring to life his latest record, The Weight of the Woods. Not many artists can say they have had each of their three albums shoot to the number one chart spot, so there is something special in the soul-stirring latest pop release and what it represents. It’s a weighty balance in the setlist too, bringing almost all of the album into the live soulful folk woodland.

The former busker embraces a larger band, plus the addition of nine gospel singers for extra goosebumps and harmonies. It makes the a capella The Weight of the Woods (Reprise) a stunning opener, continually managing the difficult feat of a performance equally intimate and expansive, filling an arena as large as the O2 whilst making fans forget where they are. The set strikes a cohesive and deeply satisfying mix between debut classics and newer material; this is a show crafted for the loyal fans who never went anywhere. Omitting most of his sophomore album Sonder, it feels like the artist is returning to his roots, especially during a run of old favourites Lost, An Evening I Will Not Forget and All My Friends. Sharing the highs and lows of his career origins, he pauses mid-song during an electric After Rain to encourage the songwriters in the room to continue chasing their passions, followed by a powerful, cathartic crowd chorus of the lyrics “you won’t go lonely”.

From poetry-esque ballads like Refuge and Endless to fresher foot-stomping anthems with even more Irish influence like mandolin-decorated Turnstile, there are highlights aplenty from the unapologetic stretches of new material. Kennedy is joined by some of the band on a B-stage in the middle of the floor, providing some of the standout moments of the evening; instead of one or two tickbox songs for show, he spends a decent portion here, stripping the production back with emotional, raw performances of tracks like Happiness and later The Weight of the Woods, a special communal moment illuminated by every phone flashlight. By the time polished crowd-pleasers Better Days and Power Over Me conclude alongside unexpectedly hopeful Funeral, there’s an unmistakably triumphant energy that carries the audience homebound.

Despite an air of introversion, Kennedy feels entirely comfortable on this massive stage. Genuinely humbled, he confesses he’s sometimes “baffled” but grateful for the ongoing support. The quietly charismatic performer delivers a powerhouse setlist with mightily husky vocal roars, electric band accompaniment, something for the original fans, as well as a mesmerising translation of the new record to stage. As someone who has seen Dermot Kennedy perform live multiple times, this writer would confidently say this is his strongest and most passionate tour to date.