Dermot Kennedy is coming back to New Zealand, and the timing couldn’t be better. Fresh from making UK chart history as the first Irish solo artist ever to reach number one with their first three studio albums, Kennedy has confirmed three New Zealand dates this November in support of The Weight of the Woods, his third album out now on Interscope Records. It’s the kind of tour announcement that warrants clearing the diary.
The run kicks off at Christchurch Town Hall on Wednesday 25th November, moves to TSB Arena in Wellington on Friday 27th November, and closes at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday 28th November. All three shows are all ages.
The Weight of the Woods was written and recorded largely at a studio near Kennedy’s home in rural Ireland alongside close collaborator Gabe Simon — whose credits include Noah Kahan and Lana Del Rey — with additional material recorded in Nashville. Across fourteen tracks it draws inspiration, energy and strength from Kennedy’s native Ireland, with lead single Funeral, Honest and the stunning Refuge among its standout moments. We’ve been spending time with the record — read our full album review here.
The New Zealand dates follow what is shaping up to be a massive year of live activity. Kennedy kicks off a UK and Europe run on 11th May — his largest across that region to date, including a return to London’s O2 on 5th June — before heading to the US and Canada for shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and Forest Hills Stadium in New York. He’ll also perform at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend on 24th May alongside Olivia Dean on the main stage. New Zealand gets him at the end of that run, which means these shows will carry the full weight of a year on the road behind them.
Kennedy has amassed four billion streams across platforms, holds the best-selling debut album in Ireland of this millennium with Without Fear, and is platinum-certified in over twelve countries. His journey from busking the streets of Ireland to playing Spark Arena is one of the more remarkable stories in contemporary music — and his live shows are where that story is told most powerfully.
Tickets go on general sale Friday 8th May at 11am. Full presale details below.
Tickets will first be available via artist presale here – fans can register now through until Monday 4 May at 5pm with Artist Presale Codes distributed on Tuesday 5 May. Artist Presale runs from Wednesday 6 May at 9am until Friday 8 May at 10am. For info head to dermotkennedy.com.
Eligible Westpac New Zealand customers with a Westpac New Zealand Mastercard have special access to presale tickets starting from Wednesday 6 May at 10am and ends Friday 8 May at 10am. Plus exclusive preferred tickets from Friday 8 May at 11am. For more information visit priceless.com/westpacnz
The Live Nation Presale starts Thursday 7 May at 10am, running until Friday 8 May at 10am. Register at https://livenation.co.nz/register
General tickets go on sale on Friday 8 May at 11am.
For tickets and further information head to livenation.co.nz.