Latest news with #DermotKennedy
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Noah Kahan at Marlay Park in Dublin: Set list, ticket information, how to get there and more
American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan is back in Ireland this week for a massive one-off gig in Dublin . Kahan, who shot to fame when his song Stick Season went viral on TikTok, 'came, saw and conquered' last year when he headlined Electric Picnic . 'The 27-year-old may owe his success at least in part to social media, but his music feels like an antidote to the 21st century's always-on culture,' wrote Ed Power in his review . He created pandemonium at another gig in Ireland in 2024 when he brought out Dermot Kennedy to perform Northern Attitude , a song Kahan originally recorded with Hozier . Could we see another surprise duet with an Irish musician at Kahan's Dublin concert this week? If you are heading to the gig, here is everything you need to know. READ MORE When and where is it? Noah Kahan plays Marlay Park in Dublin on Tuesday, July 1st. What time should I arrive? Gates open at 5pm with the support act expected to kick things off at about 6pm. Who is playing? Djo, the musical project of Stranger Things actor Joe Keery, will be opening the show in Marlay Park with Kahan taking to the stage afterwards. What songs will he play? During his performance last week in Cardiff, Wales, Kahan played his most popular tracks as well as some unreleased music. That set list may give fans an idea of what to expect during the Dublin gig: All My Love Everywhere, Everything She Calls Me Back New Perspective Pain Is Cold Water (unreleased) Maine Deny (unreleased) Forever Homesick Growing Sideways Call Your Mom Dial Drunk The Great Divide (unreleased) You're Gonna Go Far Orange Juice Northern Attitude Encore: The View Between Villages Stick Season How do I get to and from the gig? As is always the case at Marlay Park, the influx of major crowds will lead to inevitable delays. Make sure to give yourself plenty of extra travel time to and from the venue. Try to avoid driving to the site and use public transport where possible. Travel by bus: Dublin Bus's number 16 serves Marlay Park from the city centre, but, with the size of crowds attending, Transport for Ireland recommends using the shuttle service provided by Marathon. You can book a return shuttle here from the city centre, or from Dundrum, which is a short drive from Marlay Park. Shuttles begin running at 2pm; return shuttles begin loading on-demand at 10.30pm, with the final bus departing at 11.30pm. Travel by Luas: The Luas green line will take you to stops at Dundrum or Balally, both of which are about a 45-minute walk from Marlay Park. If you head to Dundrum, you can also avail of the Marathon shuttle service by booking here. Travel by car: Car parking is available at Marlay Park, but it is extremely limited and must be booked in advance. The car park entrance is located at College Road and is accessed via Whitechurch Road. You will not be allowed to enter if you have not booked parking, which you can do at . For dropping off and collecting concertgoers, it is recommended that drivers use the SuperValu car park on Ballinteer Avenue, which is about a 20-minute walk from the venue. Are there any tickets left? The gig is sold out, but keep an eye on Ticketmaster for any resale tickets that may pop up. You can search for them here . If you are fortunate enough to have a ticket, make sure to to download it to your phone in advance of the gig. Screenshots may not work on the day, as Ticketmaster uses live barcodes that update regularly. Box offices are located at the College Road and Grange Road entrances to Marlay Park. What is security like? Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 25 or over to be permitted entry. You are advised to bring an official form of identification to verify your age – a passport, Garda age card or driving license. There will be security checks on the way into the park. Bags will be searched, and bags larger than A4 size will not be allowed into the event. Among the items you will not be allowed to bring into Marlay Park are umbrellas, alcohol, flares, garden furniture, drones and gas canisters. You can record the concert using a phone or a small camera, but professional cameras or recording equipment will not be allowed in. How is the weather looking? Tuesday is forecast to be a mixed bag. According to Met Éireann, cloud and sunny spells are expected in the morning with scattered showers by the afternoon. Better sunny spells will develop in the evening with highest temperatures of 17-18 degrees in light, occasionally moderate, north or northwest breezes.
BreakingNews.ie
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Zach Bryan at Phoenix Park: Everything you need to know
Zach Bryan comes to Dublin's Phoenix Park this weekend and is expected to land on Irish soil on Wednesday morning. He was the second most-streamed artist in Ireland on Spotify in 2024, beaten only by Taylor Swift. Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions has said that less than 10 per cent of tickets sold for the concert were bought by people in Dublin, with the rest being bought by people outside of the city, and when the concerts were announced, many in Dublin had not heard of Zach Bryan. Yet, 180,000 tickets for the concerts were sold, and he has 220,000 monthly Irish streams on Spotify. Advertisement To put that in perspective, usually for concerts of this magnitude, 40-50 per cent of tickets sold are bought by people in the Dublin area. Mr Aiken described Bryan as "the real deal," and said he is to younger generations what Bruce Springsteen was to his. The singer's last and only other Irish concert was in The Helix in 2023, which has a capacity of 1,800. His collective concerts over the weekend will have 100 times more people at them. "When you have 60,000 people here, they're going to know the words to every song, chanting it back at him, it's going to be a very unique and special atmosphere," Mr Aiken said. Advertisement Bryan has said previously that he loves Dermot Kennedy, who has supported him at a few concerts before. He has also mentioned Kingfishr, so there is speculation as to whether a surprise cameo will be made by an Irish artist over the weekend. There will be large groups of people Heading South from Co Donegal and other northern counties, plus Co Mayo, and other western counties, for the concerts, promoters have said. So, if you are headed to Phoenix Park, From Austin or elsewhere, to see Zach Bryan, the Grammy-Award-winning singer that Mr Aiken described on Tuesday as a "great storyteller and a very dynamic performer with a lot of charisma," keep reading to find out everything you need to know. When and where is it on? Zach Bryan plays three nights at Phoenix Park in Dublin on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20th-22nd. Advertisement Are there any tickets left? Friday and Saturday gigs have fully sold out, but there are some gold circle tickets available for Sunday on at the time of writing. Attendees are urged to buy tickets from the official seller, only, and not from any secondary sellers or unofficial sources. Don't forget to check your tickets, ensure you are attending the correct date, and have your tickets downloaded! Do not wait to do this when you arrive at the venue, as network coverage may not be available. Anyone going to the concert with children is urged to purchase tickets for the designated alcohol-free family area. One ticket is needed for each person who wants to access the area. There will also be a designated neurodivergent area at the concerts. To gain access to this, you will need to buy a specific neurodivergent area ticket. If you are a family travelling with someone who is neurodivergent and would like to spend the concert all together, be aware that you must all buy separate neurodivergent area tickets as the family area is separate from the neurodivergent area and has different facilities. Advertisement Who are the support acts? Support acts for Zach Bryan were previously announced as Turnpike Troubadours and Noeline Hofmann. Turnpike Troubadours are an American country band from Bryan's home state of Oklahoma, and their self-titled album reached the top 20 of the Billboard 100. The other support act, Noeline Hofmann, is 'quite an unknown,' Peter Aiken has said previously. The 20-year-old hails from Canada and has been tipped to be one of the biggest new artists. When should I arrive? Gates open at 5pm and the concert starts at 6pm. It should end at 10.30pm. Those with early access tickets can enter from 4.30pm. All times are subject to change, and when specific stage times are announced, we will update this article. You can enter the concert grounds up until 9pm. Advertisement How do I get there and home again? As traffic and parking delays are inevitable, attendees are strongly advised to use public transport or carpool and plan their journey in advance, allowing sufficient travel time to and from the venue. Be aware that there is a 45-minute walk from the Phoenix Park main entrance to the venue site, so wear comfy shoes! Early queuing is not permitted. Phoenix Park is a residential and commercial area, so promoters have asked attendees to be sound and respectful of this. By Luas: Broombridge Luas Station and Luas Stop are a 30-minute walk to Phoenix Park. Heuston Station Luas stop is 40 minutes from Phoenix Park centre, or 9 minutes from the gates to Phoenix Park, at the start of Chesterfield Avenue. By train: Get the train to Heuston station, where you can get the bus from Parkgate Street across the bridge from the station. A number of bus routes go from Heuston to Phoenix Park, though. It is a 45-minute walk from Heuston Station to Phoenix Park and just a nine-minute walk to the gates. By bus: You can get Dublin Bus routes 26, 38b, 39, 70, 99, C5, and C6 to Phoenix Park. Independent private coaches and minibus services are also being provided from a range of locations around the country. They will be parked inside Phoenix Park. Bus Éireann are also running concert-specific routes in addition to normal services to Phoenix Park from Cork, Limerick and Galway. Marathon Group is also running special concert-specific routes from Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin and orbital routes to Phoenix Park. They will be dropping off in the park, and pickup will be in the same place. By car: There is no parking available on the streets surrounding the venue or inside Phoenix Park. A traffic management plan will be in operation by An Garda Síochána. The venue is situated in a residential and commercial area and will be monitored by Dublin City Council's Parking Enforcement, and illegally parked cars may be clamped or towed. If you need to drive, though, organisers encourage you to carpool and use park and ride facilities, such as the M3 Parkway Park & Ride, N51 Navan Park & Ride, Red Cow Park & Ride, Cheeverstown Park & Ride, Carrickmines Park & Ride, or Stillorgan Park & Ride. If you choose to park in a city centre car park, check the closing times before parking. Dropoff/Pickup There will be a drop-off facility at the Dublin Zoo car park, and there will be stewards there to facilitate this. With pick-up, it will be in the same location, but anyone collecting people from there has to be within the park before 9.30pm for health and safety reasons, because of the number of people who will be leaving the park at 10.30pm when the concert ends, so you may be expected to wait until some of the crowd clears out before you can leave. Can I bring a water bottle? Standard 750ml plastic reusable bottles that are empty upon arrival are permitted. There will be water refill stations inside the venue. Metal bottles are not permitted, though, so leave the Stanleys at home. What's the story with security? Travel light and only bring the essentials. You'll only need a small bag, phone or device with ticket, your ID, sun cream and weather-appropriate clothing. There will be food outlets and bars within the venue. Do not bring a bag unless necessary, and if you have to bring one, make sure your bag is less than A4 size because bags larger than A4 will not be permitted within the venue. People with no bags will be fast-tracked, and regardless of bag size, your bag will be subject to a search and result in queuing. Make sure your phone/device is fully charged when you arrive. However, there will be paid phone charging facilities available on site. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 18 who is attending the event, who will remain with them and take full responsibility for them throughout the event. Children under the age of five will not be admitted, and everyone entering the stadium must have a valid ticket. If there is any doubt whether a minor qualifies for the age restrictions set out, proof of age may be requested, promoters have said. If in doubt, bring a colour photocopy of the child's passport to prevent any unnecessary disappointment. One Adult can accompany up to four children. There will be free tag-a-kid safety wristbands available at the information point inside the venue. Parents/guardians attending with young children are encouraged to avail of the white wristbands, which have space for them to write a contact number. The purpose of the wristbands is to help reunite lost children with a parent/guardian should their child become separated from you. This is a standing-only event, and no foldable/temporary seats are allowed into the venue. Only small 35mm cameras will be permitted into the venue. Any article that may be used as a weapon bottles, glasses, cans, flasks, frisblees, dangerous items, illegal substances, scooters, flag poles, flares, laser devices, prams, suitcases, laptops, air horns, selfie sticks, and cooler boxes are some, but not all of the prohibited items. You can bring small banners of A4 or A3 size, but anything larger is not allowed as it can obstruct the views of other attendees. Re-entry is not permitted, so once you're in, you're in. Also, don't feed the animals, and be respectful of them and the wildlife within the park area. Use the bins provided around the site, too. Umbrellas are not allowed in the venue, so if it looks like it might rain, bring a raincoat or poncho, which Lidl have in stock at the moment for 99c each! Can I use cash on the concert grounds? No, the concerts will be fully cashless events. Can I take pictures at the concert? Any large lens professional cameras or any form of video recorder will not be admitted. Of course, you can use your phone, though. What's the weather giving? The weather gods have been working in concert-goers' favour, with the weekend expected to be lovely weather-wise, forecasting Pink Skies at the time of writing. Entertainment Quiz: How well do you know Zach Bryan? Read More Friday is expected to be cloudy but warm, with the sun shining that evening. There is a tiny chance of rain during the day, but it should ease off by the time the gates open. Temperatures are forecast for between 17 and 22 degrees. Saturday's temperatures are expected to be between 16 and 23 degrees, with no rain forecast and the sun expected to come out from behind the clouds throughout the day. No rain is expected on Sunday either, with temperatures expected to be between 15 and 21 degrees, and clouds with sunny spells forecast. Remember that we are in Ireland, though, so bear that in mind. Check the weather forecast on the day, look outside, and dress accordingly for Irish weather - think boots or runners, layers, raincoats/ponchos and sun cream, but remember, no umbrellas.
Extra.ie
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Dermot Kennedy among Irish stars taking to Old Trafford for Soccer Aid
Actor Emmett J Scanlan, former soccer star Robbie Keane, Westlife star Nicky Byrne, singer Dermot Kennedy and soccer manager John O'Shea are flying the flag for the Irish on Sunday as they join a star-studded list of celebrities and football legends for Soccer Aid. The charity football match takes place at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday evening with kick-off at 7.30pm. The annual event was established in 2006 and raises much-needed funds for UNICEF UK, with more than £100m (€117m) raised over the last 20 years. Actor Emmett J Scanlan, former soccer star Robbie Keane, Westlife star Nicky Byrne, singer Dermot Kennedy and soccer manager John O'Shea are flying the flag for the Irish on Sunday as they join a star-studded list of celebrities and football legends for Soccer Aid. Pic: Dermot Kennedy/ Instagram England face the World XI, who were previously known as the Rest of the World and have a record of seven wins over England's six. Coverage of the event gets underway from 6pm via ITV1 with Dermot O'Leary and Alex Scott on hosting duties for the exciting evening. Tickets are still available to purchase via the Soccer Aid website with a range of different prices starting from £20 (€23) for an adult and £10 for children (€11). Category 4 and Wheelchair Access tickets have sold out for the game. The World XI is being managed by ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel with fellow United legends Edwin van der Sar and Nemanja Vidic on the team. The Irish stars line out for the World XI team alongside former boxer Tony Bellew, actor Richard Gadd, YouTuber Tobi Brown and more. England, who are coached by former soccer player Wayne Rooney and boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, include former Manchester United player Gary Neville, singer Tom Grennan, presenter, actor Paddy McGuinness and singer Louis Tomlinson. Reality star Sam Thompson, who won I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here last year was also set to play for the England side but has since withdrawn. Sam and Louis' appearance on the same team would have been an interesting watch following reports that the former One Direction singer is romantically involved with Sam's ex-girlfriend, Zara Thompson.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How much are Dermot Kennedy ‘A Promised Return Tour' concert tickets?
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. Dermot Kennedy is throwing away all the theatrics in 2025. This October, the Irish singer-songwriter will strike out on his 'A Promised Return Tour' where he'll play intimate, stripped-down shows at major cities all over North America. That includes a gig at the newly-opened Brooklyn Paramount on Monday, Oct. 27. Advertisement 'These are the kind of shows I dreamed of before I had a career,' the 33-year-old shared via Instagram. 'Just me and my lyrics, playing in quiet theatres, all of us getting what we need from the words.' Those who have followed Kennedy's recent output likely won't be surprised by this development. His most recent single, 'Let Me In,' is a folksy, lo-fi affair that show off his voice and guitar skills. Nothing else necessary here; just a man and his instrument. Before the quick North American leg of the tour begins, Kennedy also has a unique gig on his 2025 tour calendar. On Sept. 6, he'll headline South Bend, IN's Notre Dame Stadium alongside Zach Bryan and controversial comedian Shane Gillis. 'This will be one of the last shows we announce,' Bryan wrote on Instagram about the show. 'Thank you guys for understanding the boys and me taking time away from the road. Couldn't go without having some of the most talented people I know play with me out at Notre Dame. Love you guys and feel more blessed by the day.' Advertisement If you want to attend any of these Dermot Kennedy concerts, tickets are available for all shows as of today. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one of his solo shows was $195 including fees on Vivid Seats. Other concerts have seats starting anywhere from $203 to $484 including fees. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Dermot Kennedy's 'A Promised Return Tour' below. Advertisement All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. Dermot Kennedy tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here: Dermot Kennedy tour dates Ticket prices start at Sept. 6 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN with Zach Bryan and Shane Gillis $133 (fees included) Oct. 7 at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, BC, CA $484 (fees included) Oct. 10 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA $222 (fees included) Oct. 11 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA $248 (fees included) Oct. 14 at the Summit Music Hall in Denver, CO $328 (fees included) Oct. 16 at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, TX $223 (fees included) Oct. 18 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA $203 (fees included) Oct. 19 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN $298 (fees included) Oct. 21 at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL $324.08 (fees included) Oct. 23 at History in Toronto, ON, CA $336 (fees included) Oct. 25 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA $371 (fees included) Oct. 27 at the Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, NY $239 (fees included) Oct. 28 at the The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD $195 (fees included) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Advertisement Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. Dermot Kennedy set list Kennedy recently headlined his global music Misneach Festival celebrating Irish culture at Boston's TD Garden. Here's what he took to the stage at his last gig on March 19, according to Set List FM. 01.) 'Blossom' 02.) 'Power Over Me' 03.) 'One Life' 04.) 'All My Friends' 05.) 'Let Me In' 06.) 'Young and Free' 07.) 'Dreamer' 08.) 'Moments Passed' 09.) 'Glory' 10.) 'Rome' 11.) 'Days Like This' (Van Morrison cover) 12.) 'After Rain' 13.) 'Outnumbered' 14.) 'Better Days' 15.) 'Kiss Me' 16.) 'Something to Someone' 17.) 'The Parting Glass' (traditional cover) Dermot Kennedy new music Thus far, Kennedy has only released one single in 2025. The winsome 'Let Me In,' which hit streaming services on March 11, is a powerful piece of acoustic rock. Evocative lyrics — 'tell me who wins the war between the heart and my head/I forgot what I'm suffering for' and 'I know there's a room where I'm happy/But I can't find the door' — match the urgency of the music to create a raw sound that sounds great in headphones and likely even better live. If this is the first taste of what's to come, we can't wait to see what else Kennedy has cooking for this tour. To hear for yourself, you can find 'Let Me In' here. Huge stars on tour in 2025 Advertisement Love Dermot Kennedy and want to catch a few more shows featuring artists with similar sensibilities this year? In that case, there are plenty more options these next few months. Here are just five of our favorites you won't want to miss live in the near future. • Hozier • The Lumineers Advertisement • Teddy Swims • Mumford and Sons • Rob Thomas Who else is out and about? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. Advertisement This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dermot Kennedy reveals insight into 'improving' mental health in candid admission
EXCLUSIVE: Singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy has shared a candid admission into dealing with his mental health and how he's dealt with years of 'relentless' touring Dermot Kennedy has revealed that while it's not a quick fix – his career is almost like therapy for him. Dermot, has spoken previously about his mental health and how running has benefited him both in and outside of work. But in a candid admission, the 33-year-old from Rathcoole, Ireland musician admits that he "takes for granted" having an outlet through music. Kennedy has been praised for his lyrics in the past, which have seen him receive critical acclaim. Although he's one of Ireland's biggest exports, he's remained true to his roots and has previously stated he's been "resistant" to the idea of being a celebrity. Opening up exclusively to the Mirror, he said: "I think the huge thing I take for granted is that I do have the outlet of music – no matter what the issue I have, if there's something weighing on me," before he added: "I'm not saying it's a quick fix but you can always improve it in some way by writing about it. "It's literally like therapy, so that's huge for me. It's definitely a journey through music in terms of being on tour relentlessly, in terms of what's demanded of you – different kinds of pressures you put on yourself, different pressures people put on you." He went on to explain that this can be "intense" but he manages to find balance. "I'm very conscious of the fact that I am so lucky to do what I love for a job," he said. Struggling to contain his joy, the Power Over Me singer said: "I dreamed of playing music for a job and so now that I get to do it, the overwhelming feeling is constantly a good one but you just have to keep an eye on yourself." Having started his career aged just 17 as a busker, Dermot traveled across Ireland and later the United States to perform. But it wasn't until his 2017 single, Moments Passed, when he started gaining recognition in the industry. Although he's one of Ireland's most successful artists, the star who maintains a relatively private life away from the spotlight admits his life hasn't changed too much. "The biggest lesson for me and I never wanted to seem negative because I'm so lucky," he said. Dermot added: "The career I have is the exact type of career I've dreamed about. The rooms I play in are very big but I don't necessarily feel like my life has changed drastically. "But I think the biggest lesson I've learnt is you've got to careful about how much of your self-worth you attach to achievements. It's a cliche, everybody in music has been through it to some degree, I think. You're like 'if I play that room, I'll feel really happy' and 'if I achieve this and reach that milestone, I'll feel really content' – it just doesn't happen that way, I think that feeling inevitably is something you have to go looking for yourself. "It's a journey you're on by yourself – it's got nothing to do with being in music or releasing music. I think no matter how big the achievement, you don't immediately have this sense of fulfilment but I think it can be a tiny bit jarring then when you do have those moments and you come away from it feeling, 'oh that was amazing' but it's not it. I think that's the biggest lesson I've learnt, that it's going to have to come from me as opposed to some external thing." Kennedy has previously opened up about following in the footsteps of the late great Sinead O'Connor and Hozier as a musician coming from Ireland, which he admits has been "important" to him – although he doesn't spend too much time thinking of. "I'm very proud to be an Irish artist but I'm just proud to be part of that musical heritage," before explaining that Irish musicians have "punched above" their weight in "every kind of art form". This year, Dermot is returning to Soccer Aid for the third time, playing on the World XI team. "It's a no brainer for me," he said before explaining: "No matter what I'm doing, it's one of the few things I'll literally carve time out for. It's loads of fun and it's for a great cause and an incredible amount of money is raised. It's a special thing to be a part of." Although Soccer Aid sees a bunch of famous faces come together to help UNICEF, Dermot admits its one of the rare opportunities for fellow musicians to come together and talk to one another. "It's a lovely opportunity for people to just come together," he said. Since it's launch in 2006, Soccer Aid has raised over £106 million for UNICEF, helping those around the world caught up in conflict or crisis, offering vital medical supplies, accommodation and education for children. The first year Dermot played, there was around £13 million raised, with the singer going into the match not knowing how much the game raises each year. "I've been lucky enough to do a few things in Ireland for charity and I know how tricky it can be to raise a substantial amount of money," he said, before adding that it was "impressive" that Soccer Aid can raise around £13 million and £15 million each year. "It's great that it's inclusive," he said of the cost of tickets which start at just £10 for a child and £20 for an adult. This year is extra special for Dermot, who's performing at the half-time show, following in the footsteps of the likes of Robbie Williams, The Struts and Tom Walker. "In terms of singing, I'm looking forward to it," he said, explaining: "I think being involved in the match means I won't have too much time to think about singing so I'll just have to go and do it, which is sweet. But it's surreal – I think a lot of youngsters in Ireland and the UK, you grow up wishing you'd get to do that, so to be in this position now and you get to play it is insane." But Dermot hasn't started compiling his set list yet but admits he'll choose tracks from his discography which "fits the moment best" and the songs which are most likely to "strike a chord with people at home." Most recently, the musician performed in Boston and Sydney as part of his MISNEACH Festival. While launching a festival can often be stressful, Dermot admits it was "brilliant". "Everybody who played throughout the day was on stage with me for the last song," he said. He added: "I just wanted to say thanks to everybody that was there but I also wanted to point out that there's just so much Irish talent that wasn't there. "There's just so many acts from Ireland that I'm proud of that are exciting that the world should know about. To be in a position where I can kind of put people on stage or give them a platform that they might not otherwise have means a lot to me." He went on to explain that this is one of the main reasons why artists should have a platform. "When you get to the point of having some degree of success, you're just trying to look for different levels of meaning – that one was quite a deep one for me, so I'm very proud of that." Although Soccer Aid is his main priority at the moment, Dermot revealed he's also working on his third studio album. "I've put a lot of work in on the next album," he teased before continuing: "I feel like I'm almost there and so depending on when I get done with that, we might play a few shows and stuff. But the rest of the year is beautifully open in a funny way. I toured non-stop for a very long time, it got to the point of it was like diminishing return. "I'm just conscious of not planning years of touring just for the sake of it. I think I'm at a point in my career where you get to do things a bit more deliberately and things in a more meaningful way. I'd love to play some shows but I'm not rushing in to it, but I'll definitely get through it at some point."
