Dermot Kennedy in Zurich

Another night, another concert, this time it was Dermot Kennedy in Zurich, taking over Halle 622 with a sold out crowd that was more than ready for an emotional evening. After recently choosing a much more intimate route with smaller venues like X-TRA, seeing him back on a bigger stage almost felt like watching someone return home after a long walk through the woods. And clearly, people missed him. Halle 622 was packed wall to wall long before the lights even went down.

Before Dermot Kennedy stepped on stage, the lovely guys of Amble had the job of warming up the room. And they did exactly that. Their folk-inspired sound fit the mood of the evening perfectly, somewhere between comforting pub-session warmth and storytelling under rainy skies. Absolutely lovely bunch with genuinely great songs. I’ll definitely be back if they return to Switzerland as headliners one day. By the time their set ended, the audience was fully locked in and the venue itself had turned properly toasty too.

Concert Photos: Amble

Dermot Kennedy in Zurich Felt Like a Forest Dream

The moment the “curtain dropped”, the stage design instantly stood out. Dermot Kennedy brought the world of his new album The Weight of the Woods directly into Halle 622. The entire setup looked like a cozy little forest tucked away somewhere deep in the mountains. Warm lights, earthy tones, bushes surrounding the different levels of the stage. Honestly, the only thing missing was a campfire and someone handing out marshmallows in the pit. It felt intimate despite the size of the venue, which is not an easy thing to pull off.

Dermot Balanced New Songs and Old Favorites

The setlist leaned heavily into the newer material, but surprisingly, those songs worked incredibly well live. Sometimes fresh tracks can slow down the energy of a show, but here they blended naturally into the atmosphere he created. Of course, the older favorites still had their moment too. Outnumbered arriving as song number three genuinely caught me off guard, but hearing the entire crowd instantly sing along reminded everyone why these songs connected with so many people in the first place. It was also nice spotting a few familiar faces in the front row again, tiny little full-circle moments that always make concerts feel special.

Respect for the artist and his art!

One thing that really stood out throughout the night was how respectful the audience was. There was barely any talking, even during the quietest and most fragile moments of the set. You could actually hear the silence between the songs, which somehow made the emotional moments hit even harder. And honestly, I have to say it: Dermot Kennedy keeps getting better with every show I see. I’ve always loved his songwriting and his voice, but years ago at that very first show in Papiersaal, I wasn’t completely convinced by his stage presence yet. Since then, he has come a very long way. These days his performances feel far more natural, grounded, and confident. All in all, this was simply a great evening. Brilliant songs, a genuinely lovely crowd, and a show that felt warm from start to finish. I’ll definitely be back.