Grafton Street was brought to a standstill last night as Dermot Kennedy gave a surprise performance for fans.
Thousands flocked to the Dublin shopping street to watch the Irish singer sing some of his hit songs. The impromptu gig took place on the balcony of Bewleys Cafe.
The 30-year-old famously began his career busking in his teens. He admitted that it felt "unreal" to return to where his career began on Grafton Street.
Read more: Dermot Kennedy makes young fan's 'dream come true' with meeting in Dublin
He told Irish Daily Mirror: “It’s unreal, it really is. But it kind of feels the same in a way. Like what’s changed, I know I play to a lot more people and they know my music now, but It’s the same thing in my head.
“I just kind of get the guitar and do what I would have done when I was 16. But it really is nice.”
“Like I had 10 years of playing and no one was paying attention, so it is just about being stubborn,” he added as he reflected on his long journey from the street to the main stage.
The Dubliner, who dropped his second album, Sonder, on Friday performed some of his hit singles on it including fan favourites Something To Someone and Kiss Me. And despite the crowd loudly singing his tunes back to him in support on the chilly winter evening, Dermot admitted he was still anxious before releasing his new collection to listeners last week.
“I really am. I can’t speak for other artists, but I definitely think people have this idea sometimes that we are so kind of confident, and I do feel confident and free with it, but you definitely are nervous when you release it. And so, I think it is more reassuring when the feedback is good.”
“It’s a huge relief. I think again talking about what people don’t see, they don’t see me spending six weeks in London or New York going mad over a certain lyrics or mix or does this song sound right blah blah blah back and forth. And then when the song finally comes out it’s just very reassuring.”
Dermot performed the home gig in support of Barretstown children’s charity. He told the crowd: "Some people just don't have their cards dealt to them and so we should help if we can. There's so many of us here so let's raise a tonne of money for them."
Earlier in the day, the Irish musician met thousands of fans at a signing at Golden Discs at St Stephen’s Green.
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