Dermot Kennedy becomes first Irish soloist to top charts with first three albums

Dermot Kennedy has become the first Irish solo artist to reach number one with his first three studio albums, according to the Official Charts Company.

The 14-track record, The Weight Of The Woods, was released on Friday and has already shot to the top of the album chart, marking Kennedy’s third UK number one album.

The Dublin-born singer-songwriter, 34, took the top spot with his 2019 debut album Without Fear, and his second album Sonder, released in 2022.

Kennedy is the first Irish soloist to have topped the charts with his first, second and third albums.

The Weight Of The Woods has also topped the UK vinyl albums chart for the most physical records sold, and is at number one on the official record store chart for albums sold in independent UK record shops.

Award-winning popstar Raye, known for the hit song Where Is My Husband!, has been knocked from from the top spot by the Irish singer.

This Music May Contain Hope, which landed Raye her first UK number one album last week, is in second place on the albums chart.

It is followed by Olivia Dean’s award-winning record The Art Of Loving which sits at three, while Harry Styles is at four with Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.

Styles released his chart-topping record last month, and has been named the official biggest album of 2026 so far by the Official Charts Company.

Rounding off the top five is K-pop group BTS with their first release in four years, Arirang.

Also in the album charts, US pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend has jumped 14 places to ninth place, ahead of her highly-anticipated headliner gig at Coachella festival in California this weekend.

On the singles charts, Sam Fender and Dean continue their streak at the top with their Brit Award-winning Rein Me In.

They are followed by Bella Kay’s ILoveItILoveItILoveIt (two) and Australian band Tame Impala’s Dracula (three).

Elsewhere, Zara Larsson’s 2016 single Lush Life has had a resurgence and is holding fourth place, while Alex Warren completes the top five with Fever Dream.