Hozier at Finsbury Park

On Sunday 7th July, 45,000 fans made their way to Finsbury Park for Hozier’s sold-out headline performance as part of his ‘Unreal Unearth’ Tour. The Irish singer-songwriter first found popularity in 2013 with his debut single, “Take Me To Church”. Over 10 years later, Hozier’s third album, Unreal Unearth, is Hozier’s first UK Number 1 album.

Thanks to the wonderful staff, crowds were filtered from the local Underground stations directly to the venue, which offered a variety of amenities to enjoy. Upon arrival, fans flocked to the barricades, including the B-stage, where many anticipated Hozier's encore performance. Despite the poor weather, the audience were in high spirits and settled early to see the opening acts, Ye Vagabonds, Lord Huron, and Brittany Howard.

Ye Vagabonds set a whimsical atmosphere to start the event, followed shortly by Lord Huron, who took the audience on an emotional journey with their blend of dreamy, nostalgic folk and crushing ballads. Lead singer Ben Schneider shared that they had “a little something for everybody... the weirder the better.” Brittany Howard brought soul and spirit to the event, getting the crowd moving and bringing excitement for Hozier to take the spotlight.

Hozier took to the stage with “Eat Your Young”. His seven-piece band included cello, violin, guitar, synth, and many more instruments. Just moments before his set, the weather cleared up, prompting him to express a joke to the audience: “Thank you sincerely for seemingly turning off the rain.” The artist played a mix of songs from all three of his albums. Although not my favourite of his songs, my favourite performance was “Dinner & Diatribes”. Hozier held his notes for an impressively long time, captivating us with his vocal prowess.

Brittany Howard joined Hozier for a stunning duet of “Feelin’ Alright” (Joe Cocker cover), which the crowd (myself included) seemed to love! He then thanked the audience for helping him get his next song, “Too Sweet”, to hit the number one position in the UK, the first of his songs to do so! During the song, he stepped into the pit to interact with the fans at the barricades.

We were introduced to the Irishman’s band, with each member playing a solo. I was blown away by Larissa Maestro’s cello solo in particular, and the band was truly incredible, amplifying each other’s talent. The stage visuals were somewhat mesmerising, curated with intention for each song. I was particularly fond of the line of bare trees that descended from above the stage and gently glowed.

It’s undeniably clear that the fans love “Take Me to Church” all the same after its 10-year anniversary. Many younger fans have grown up with the song, often not understanding its power until later in life. The song sheds light on the shaming and discrimination against homosexuality in the church, with the music video drawing on this message explicitly. It was no surprise that Hozier proudly hung a pride flag across his microphone stand at the end of the performance, to which the crowd applauded for many minutes.

After a brief break, Hozier made his way to the B-stage for his encore, where he played “Cherry Wine” and “Unknown / Nth” to his biggest audience to date as the sun set across London. The small B-stage put total focus on Hozier amongst all the guests at the venue. It was a beautiful moment for all the fans, surrounding the man who has provided a safe space for so many of us.

Before the end of the show, Hozier took the time to address the political climate of today’s world. He shared that he wrote “Nina Cried Power” to remind himself of the “legacy of protest... and community organisation that we sometimes take for granted.” The Irish singer-songwriter addressed the significance of the civil rights movement in the United States, the right to vote in Northern Ireland, and how important it is “that our trans siblings feel safe”. He went on to state: “We want our LGBTQ+ siblings to have the same rights as us, to feel appreciated, and to feel safe in our society.”

“We take for granted that women have the right to vote... we take for granted that women should have productive rights, something that my country only really achieved in 2018... we take for granted that we have a weekend to look forward to”, he further declared. Hozier ended his powerful speech by explaining how “we wouldn’t want our neighbours to live in the fear of hatred.” He left fans with an urgent plea to contact their local representatives to support a ceasefire and see Palestine free from occupation. Band member Milissa McMillan joined Hozier in singing “Nina Cried Power”, before his finale of “Work Song”.

Hozier took his time to thank each and every member of his team, from the band members to the technical staff and managerial staff. He applauded his opening acts before thanking the tens of thousands of fans who came out of their way to see him perform. For everyone involved, it was “an incredibly special gig” and one that he’ll “never forget”.

This concert was one of the best I have attended, and it was an incredible first experience seeing Hozier live. It featured nearly two hours of powerful music, fostering a sense of community and creating a safe space for everyone.

Ye Vagabonds