Dermot Kennedy in Jakarta - tickets for an emotive folk-pop set at LaLaLa Festival in Jakarta International Expo

Dermot Kennedy in Jakarta: emotional folk-pop amid a two-day festival program

LaLaLa Festival 2026 transforms Jakarta International Expo into a two-day music venue with four stages and a program combining pop, indie, rock, soul and alternative music. The festival takes place on August 22 and 23, while Dermot Kennedy is scheduled for Sunday, August 23 at 16:00 local time. This is an important distinction for visitors planning their arrival: the festival ticket is valid for both days, while Kennedy's performance is part of the second day of the program.

The Irish singer-songwriter arrives in Jakarta at a very active stage of his career. His third studio album "The Weight of the Woods" was released on April 3, 2026, and was produced by Gabe Simon. The album opened a new chapter after "Without Fear", "Sonder" and the EP "I've Told the Trees Everything", but it has not displaced the songs by which a wider audience recognizes him most quickly. His current concert repertoire therefore connects the new phase with songs such as "Outnumbered", "Power Over Me" and "Better Days".

Ticket sales for this event are underway.

A new phase of his career and the sound of the current tour

"The Weight of the Woods" is an album strongly connected to Kennedy's Irish songwriting perspective, but in terms of production it does not remain confined to a classic singer-songwriter framework. For years, his music has combined an acoustic foundation, expansive pop choruses, electronic textures and rhythmic elements that create a greater dynamic range in concert than might be expected from a performer who built his career with his voice and guitar.

The album has 14 songs. Among them are "Honest", "Refuge", "Funeral", "Endless", "Sycamore", "Turnstile", "Wasted", "Blue Eyes", "Happiness" and the title track "The Weight of the Woods". At concerts in 2026, material from that album makes up a large part of the program, but Kennedy has not abandoned the older songs that built his international audience.

His journey from street performances in Ireland to large halls and stadiums is important for understanding his live style. Even when the production becomes large-scale, the focus remains on a voice that moves from quiet passages into powerful choruses. That contrast works particularly well in songs that gradually build intensity.

• "Without Fear" from 2019 was his debut album and became the best-selling debut album in Ireland.
• "Sonder" from 2022 expanded his pop sound and brought a new phase of major tours.
• "I've Told the Trees Everything" preceded the current studio chapter.
• "The Weight of the Woods" from 2026 is his third studio album and the foundation of the current tour.

What the 2026 performances so far reveal about the repertoire

The exact setlist for Jakarta should not be assumed in advance, especially because this is a festival performance. Nevertheless, the performances so far on "The Weight of the Woods" tour provide a good indication of which songs Kennedy currently keeps at the center of his live program.

At performances in Glasgow, Manchester and London, the songs included "The Weight of the Woods (Reprise)", "Honest", "Wasted", "Outnumbered", "Sycamore", "Refuge", "Lost", "An Evening I Will Not Forget", "All My Friends", "After Rain", "Happiness", "Let Me In", "Endless", "Turnstile", "Better Days", "Power Over Me" and "Funeral".

This does not mean that the same order or the same number of songs will be performed in Jakarta. A festival set may have a different running time from an arena concert. The broader picture is more important: the current live identity combines the new album with the biggest songs from the earlier phase of his career instead of turning the tour into nothing more than a presentation of the new release.

A festival, not a conventional concert

Kennedy performs in Jakarta as part of LaLaLa Festival, so the experience is significantly different from an evening in which the entire venue belongs to a single performer. Four stages with different designs have been announced for the 2026 edition. That means more simultaneous programming, more movement around the complex and the need for visitors to organize their own schedules in advance.

The program includes, among others, Rex Orange County, Steve Lacy, HONNE, Two Door Cinema Club, The Flaming Lips, Kodaline, FLO, Jordan Rakei, Matt Maltese, Astrid S and Summer Salt. Such a line-up makes Kennedy's performance interesting even to an audience that may not have come exclusively for him. His combination of folk, pop and powerful vocal interpretation works well between an intimate singer-songwriter moment and a large festival chorus.

For long-time fans, the biggest attraction will be hearing how the new album fits alongside the songs that defined "Without Fear" and the later phase. For the broader festival audience, Kennedy's recognizable singles can be an entry point into the deeper part of his catalog.

It is worth securing tickets in time.

Jakarta International Expo and the feel of the space

Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran is not a single concert hall with a fixed configuration. It is a large exhibition and event complex covering around 44 hectares. For exhibition and event purposes, it uses around 100,000 square meters, of which approximately half is indoor space, while more than 50,000 square meters is outdoor space.

For Kennedy's performance, this means that the experience will depend on the specific stage, sound system and audience position. The available information does not confirm the configuration of his stage, so it would not be reasonable to promise particular acoustics or a certain sense of proximity. At a festival with four stages, the distance from the performer depends greatly on when the audience arrives in front of the stage and how much interest there is in that time slot.

JIExpo is designed for large exhibitions, concerts and mass events, but a festival involves more walking than a conventional arena concert. Visitors who want to be closer to the stage should include time in their plan for moving from another festival zone and possible crowds between popular time slots.

How to get to JIExpo Kemayoran

JIExpo is located in the Kemayoran area in the central part of Jakarta and is connected by road and public transport. The complex lists Transjakarta, commuter rail and road access among the usual options. Traffic arrangements may change for major events, so it is useful to check conditions on the day of arrival.

For commuter rail, Rajawali and Kemayoran stations are practical options. Transjakarta also serves the JIExpo area, and for major events certain connections may be adjusted.

• If you are arriving by public transport, check the final station and last departures before entering the festival.
• If you are arriving by car, expect heavier traffic in Kemayoran and follow the latest instructions for entry and parking.
• If you combine rail with on-demand transport, Rajawali and Kemayoran are practical points for the final part of the journey.
• For the return trip after the evening program, it is useful to have a backup transport option arranged in advance.

Parking space is available within and around JIExpo, but the allocation of entrances and parking zones depends on the specific event. Therefore, visitors should not rely on parking arrangements from other events held at the same complex.

Rules that can change the plan for the day

LaLaLa Festival is open to visitors of all ages. Children under 12 are recommended to be accompanied by an adult, and children over 5 need their own ticket. Strollers are allowed, while pets are not permitted in the festival area.

DSLR and SLR cameras and cameras with interchangeable long lenses are not allowed. According to festival information, mirrorless and compact cameras, disposable analog cameras and Polaroid devices are acceptable.

The festival begins in the afternoon, and light, breathable clothing and comfortable footwear are recommended. Spending several hours in a large complex, walking between four stages and waiting in front of popular performances is much more comfortable with footwear suited to prolonged standing.

The schedule may change. Kennedy's website currently lists his performance on August 23 at 16:00, so it is useful to make one final check on the same day before heading to JIExpo.

Jakarta as part of a short Asian series of performances

The Jakarta performance comes during a busy Asian section of Kennedy's schedule. Performances in Japan, South Korea and Manila are listed in August before LaLaLa Festival in Jakarta, after which the schedule moves to the United States in early September. Jakarta is therefore not an isolated date, but part of a short regional sequence bringing the "The Weight of the Woods" phase to Asian audiences.

His performance comes several months after the release of the new album, by which time the songs have already gone through a European tour and a series of major stages. This means that the new material reaches Jakarta after already being integrated into the concert repertoire alongside older hits.

How to organize the festival day around Dermot Kennedy

The most important practical detail is that the festival ticket is valid for both days, while Kennedy's time slot is tied to the second day. A visitor coming primarily because of him therefore should not plan Sunday as a conventional evening concert. The 16:00 time slot means that his performance takes place earlier than is usual for standalone arena concerts.

A good plan is to arrive early enough to pass through entry checks without rushing, find the stage schedule and estimate the time needed to move around the complex. If the goal is a place closer to the stage, it is not wise to move from a distant performance at the last minute. Four stages increase the choice, but also the possibility of overlapping artists.

Tickets for this event are in demand.

If Kennedy's set is shorter than his standalone performances, that does not necessarily mean a weaker experience. The festival format can emphasize the songs with the strongest live impact, and his catalog already has a clear contrast between quiet verses, powerful vocal build-ups and choruses that translate easily to a large audience.

What to check immediately before arrival

Because the festival schedule may change, several details are worth checking again on the day of the visit: Kennedy's exact time slot, the name of his stage, the festival site map, any changes to entrances and the traffic arrangements around Kemayoran.

It is also useful to compare the performances you want to see before and after Kennedy. LaLaLa Festival has a broad enough program that the second day does not have to be only about waiting for one performer. If the schedule works out without major overlaps, Kennedy's emotional folk-pop can be the central point of the day between more energetic indie and pop performances.

Sources:
- LaLaLa Festival - dates, location, two-day access, Dermot Kennedy profile, visitor rules and schedule information.
- Dermot Kennedy - date and time of the Jakarta performance and current concert schedule.
- AllMusic - release date, producer and context of the album "The Weight of the Woods".
- setlist.fm - repertoire from selected performances on "The Weight of the Woods" tour during 2026.
- Jakarta International Expo - size of the complex and usual travel options.
- Beritajakarta - confirmation of the four festival stages and the broader international line-up.