Dermot Kennedy playing The Mill in Digbeth, Birmingham, I never thought I would see that. But on the tail end of a smallish pre-album tour and the release of his new one ‘Sonder’, in a mixture of two gigs, a stripped-down set and band set two hours after, with two different sell-out crowds, different or what? Especially as he has just announced a big arena tour in spring next year, so to see him up close and personal, probably our only chance to witness the essence of the man, which came across during the stripped back set. Only 8 songs but delivered with strength and feeling that was astounding, which gave you a new appreciation of the songs and the man himself. Goosebumps time, the power of his voice.

Although not a large set, it included a couple of new tunes from the album, including the new hit single, the fantastic ‘Kiss Me’. It was basically repeated on the band gig, and it was brilliant, but with a different feel to it, and to be honest most people aren’t lucky to see or hear Dermott in the raw like we did tonight, so they are more than happy. As they should be, to witness him anywhere. And they’ll get another chance next spring when he headlines an arena tour, as we most definitely will, because he is superb live, but to see him earlier tonight stripped back was something special. Magical.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe