This blog post is all about the Misneach Festival in Sydney.
If there’s one way to kick off St. Patrick’s weekend in style, it’s with a brand-new Irish music festival in the heart of Sydney.
Enter Misneach Festival, a full day of live music at The Domain, curated and headlined by none other than Dermot Kennedy.
Held on March 16th, the festival brought together an unreal lineup of Irish and international talent, making its mark as one of the most exciting new additions to Sydney’s music scene.
This blog post is all about my Misneach Festival Sydney review.
Who is Dermot Kennedy?
If you’re not already familiar with Dermot Kennedy (where have you been?!), he’s one of Ireland’s biggest musical exports of the last decade.
This was (unashamedly) my sixth time seeing Dermot Kennedy live. So if that doesn’t show you just how much I think he’s an amazing talent, I don’t know what will.
With a sound that blends folk, pop, and hip-hop influences, his emotionally charged lyrics and raw, powerful voice have earned him a huge following worldwide.
Bursting onto the scene with hits like Outnumbered and Power Over Me, he’s since released multiple chart-topping albums and played sold-out shows across the globe.
Misneach is his latest passion project—his way of bringing Irish music and culture to international audiences in a festival setting.
Previous Dermot Kennedy gig reviews:
- Gig Review: Dermot Kennedy, Alexandra Palace
- Gig Review: Dermot Kennedy, Radio City Music Hall
- Gig Review: Dermot Kennedy, Rough Trade NYC
Misneach Festival – A Festival with a Vision
This was the first-ever Misneach Festival, but if the crowd and atmosphere were anything to go by, it’s safe to say it won’t be the last.
Dermot Kennedy not only put together an incredible lineup, but he also made it clear that he wants this festival to grow—expanding to more cities with strong Irish roots.
After wrapping up in Sydney, he took Misneach to Boston for two more sold-out shows, and he’s already hinted at more to come.
The Irish Connection with Sydney and Australia
There’s no doubt that Ireland and Australia have a deep historical connection, and Sydney is no exception.
With a massive Irish expat community and a long history of Irish immigration, the city was the perfect choice for the first-ever Misneach Festival.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Sydney are always huge, and this festival felt like a natural extension of that energy.
Whether it was expats longing for a taste of home or Aussies with Irish heritage embracing their roots, the sense of community at The Domain was undeniable.
The Perfect Setting – The Domain, Sydney
Set against the backdrop of The Domain, Misneach Festival had the perfect mix of festival energy and intimate gig vibes.
The sprawling green space in the middle of Sydney gave it a proper open-air summer festival feel (especially since it was 35 degrees on the day), with the sun shining down all day, the atmosphere was spot on.
Being so close to the city, it was also an easy spot for music fans to get to, adding to the all-day party atmosphere.
Misneach Festival – An Unreal Lineup from Start to Finish
The festival kicked off with Amble, setting the tone with their indie-folk sound and getting the crowd warmed up early.
Then came Kneecap, and as expected, they turned the place upside down. Their mix of Irish rap and raw, high-energy performances had the crowd bouncing, bringing a proper punk spirit to the day.
Next up, legendary Irish band The Frames took to the stage, and it was pure magic. Seeing Glen Hansard lead the crowd through singalongs of classics like Revelate and Fitzcarraldo was one of those goosebump moments that only live music can create. They’ve been at this for years, and it showed—their set was effortless, emotional, and electric all at once.
Adding to the mix was Matt Corby, one of the few non-Irish acts on the bill, but his soulful vocals and laid-back energy slotted in perfectly. The crowd swayed, sang, and soaked it all in—a perfect transition before the final act of the night.
Dermot Kennedy – A Headliner Who Delivered
As the sun set over The Domain, it was time for the man himself—Dermot Kennedy.
From the moment he stepped on stage, you could feel how much Misneach meant to him. He put everything into his performance, from massive singalongs like Better Days and Something to Someone to the more stripped-back, emotional moments with songs like Rome and Lost and even his newest release, Let Me In.
The crowd was completely locked in, hanging on every word, and when he spoke about his dream to make Misneach a global festival, you could tell he was speaking from the heart.
Finishing with all acts back on the stage to sing the end-of-the-night Irish favourite Parting Glass, you could tell this wasn’t just a gig—it felt like the start of something way bigger.
Misneach Festival Sydney – Just the Start
For a first-time festival, Misneach Festival absolutely smashed it.
Incredible performances, unreal crowd energy, and a setting that couldn’t have been better—this one had it all.
If this is just the beginning, I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
Whether it’s in Sydney, Boston, or beyond, Misneach has all the makings of a festival that could become a must-attend event for Irish music fans worldwide.
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