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Ireland
Dermot Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter known for his blend of pop, rock, folk, and hip-hop, achieving international recognition with hit singles like "Outnumbered" and "Power Over Me," and performing globally at major music festivals.
Dermot Kennedy announced MISNEACH, a brand-new annual global music festival and celebration of Ireland's rich musical heritage to coincide with the St Patrick's Day celebrations. The festival was held in Sydney, Australia and Boston, USA in March 2025.
Ahead of a performance, the Guinness Storehouse partnered Dermot Kennedy with Dublin street-artist, Aches, to collaborate on a new mural celebrating the heritage.
The dynamic collaboration finds Kennedy seamlessly marrying his love of hip-hop with his signature brand of authentic folk-laced pop, as seen in a new version of “Better Days” featuring EarthGang.
Dermot Joseph Kennedy was born on December 13, 1991, in Rathcoole, County Dublin, Ireland. He started playing guitar at age 10 and began songwriting at 14, although he did not pursue music professionally until 17. His early career involved busking in cities such as Dublin and Boston, which helped him develop his distinct sound. His parents supported his musical aspirations, with his father frequently driving him to open mic nights. Kennedy also studied classical music at Maynooth University for three years, a period during which he formed the band Shadows and Dust, which disbanded in 2015. He gained early traction after uploading “An Evening I Will Not Forget” to Spotify in 2015 and was invited to open for Glen Hansard, whom he had met while busking.
Kennedy’s career progressed with extensive touring in the US, Australia, and Europe, playing to sold-out audiences. He performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2017, followed by Lollapalooza, South by Southwest Festival, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2018. In 2019, he appeared at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on both weekends. His debut major-label studio album, “Without Fear,” was released on October 4, 2019, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. This album featured many of his earlier works, some dating back eight years. In 2018, he was recognized as NPR Slingshot’s Best New Artist of The Year and was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2019 list.
His second album, “Sonder,” released in 2022, also reached number one in the UK and included successful singles such as “Better Days” and “Kiss Me.” Kennedy has contributed to philanthropic efforts, including “Songs For Australia” in early 2020 to aid bushfire recovery and participating in Billboard’s Live At-Home concert and his own Sound Waves concert in May 2020 to support non-profits like Housing Works and WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund. In September 2020, he played in the Soccer Aid charity match for UNICEF UK, where he was named Man of the Match. He also released the EP “I’ve Told the Trees Everything” and recent singles such as “Melodies” and “Let Me In.”
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