Dermot Kennedy: The Weight of the Woods Tour

The Read

Kennedy built his following on raw-throated folk-pop delivered at full commitment — the kind of singing that leaves nothing in reserve. On record it can be heavily produced; live, the ballast is his voice and an acoustic guitar, and the arrangements exist to get out of the way. He is unembarrassed about earnestness, which is either the appeal or the objection depending on your temperament. Ascend sits on the riverbank downtown with the skyline behind the stage, and by mid-October the evenings have finally cooled off. Outdoor sound is always a compromise, but this is music built for crowd volume rather than detail. Bring a jacket. The last hour will be colder than the first.

The Venue

Ascend Amphitheater

310 1st Ave S

A downtown outdoor room on the riverfront that earns its keep during summer touring season — lawn and reserved seating, the Cumberland at your back.