Dermot Kennedy headlined Edinburgh’s Usher Hall as part of his intimate UK tour.

The singer-songwriter arrived in the capital on a wintry day for an eagerly anticipated sold-out show.

Dermot Kennedy is one of few recent chart-topping artists that hasn’t emerged an overnight success or a social media starlet, he worked his way up from busking to the big stage, a true tale of his musical talent and songwriting skills. Since he was discovered on Dublin’s Grafton Street, the cobbles of which have seen Irish acts including Damien Rice and Kodaline, he’s honed his talent from passers-by to a dedicated fanbase who eagerly await each single and show.

From the street as his stage to the grandiose spectacle of Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, there was a simple backdrop setting as the night was all about his vocal talent.

Kickstarting any set with a slow track would seem an unusual move from the usual expectations of an energetic full-pelt release to get the crowd revved up, but for Dermot Kennedy, it worked.

On the night, the entire Usher Hall dropped to silence within seconds of him launching into the fitting ‘An Evening I Won’t Forget’; a powerful moment which happened throughout the set, minus the strong singalongs, as the crowd were entranced by his velvety vocals. Dermot’s raw releases showcased his vocal and lyrical talent with an undeniable flair.

The night kept it simple with a stripped-back feel. Black and white motion abstract images were shown on a giant screen behind the singer and his band, almost dancing along to the singles, interspersed with crowd shots of the Edinburgh gig-goers. It may have been a smaller-scale venue, but the show contained production elements expected of an arena venue with Dermot’s set ready and waiting for the bigger stages with an energy that could fill an arena.

To command a venue the size of the Usher Hall with a mainly stripped back set, Dermot Kennedy left nothing else to prove by the time he stepped off the stage. The live setting simply amplified his outstanding vocal talent with an extra spark of excitement that ignites the room with every flawlessly performed note that hit the microphone. His undeniable vocal talent paired with expertly crafted songs provide a dream combination that’s intensity increases live with his fantastic band in tow, who continually looked as if they were having as good a night as the crowd.

However, at points throughout the night, the set did start to feel a little repetitive with album tracks blending together at the seams. While scattered tracks stood their ground with a distinct variation in sound, particularly those which spotlighted more of his hip hop influences including set highlight ‘Lost’, it was clear Dermot has found a routine songwriting formula that works for individual releases, but back-to-back it felt as though this was not a full showcase of the versatility of his potential. For a debut album, it’s a strong bundle of singles wrapped together with Irish charm, but in a live setting Dermot’s talent seems bursting to break out of these limits and showcase everything that he’s made of.

Dermot’s talent is indisputable, his sales and streams are on the increase and venues across the UK are selling every seat to his shows. Now is the chance to catch Dermot live and make the most of the opportunity as with this small set-up and a unique voice like his, arena shows feel within the near horizon.

Dermot Kennedy will return to Scotland with a show at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on March 31st.