There’s a very specific internet niche that is absolutely enamored with the six-foot-six tower of an Irishman known to most as Hozier. It’s a community that has grown exponentially since the explosive success of “Too Sweet,” which earned the singer-songwriter his first No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts after 10 years of making music. Regardless of when they joined the club, fans new and old just about lost their minds at the end of July, when a certain sneaky setlist.fm post leaked not only Hozier’s Lollapalooza setlist, but a snippet of an un-released, soon-to-be live debuted track “Nobody’s Soldier.”
The song erupts in a powerful decrescendo of thundering bass and electric guitar. It’s a true rock n’ roll song, with foot-tapping percussion and a pre-chorus build that makes you want to let it all loose, jump around a bit, and shout its lyrics at the top of your lungs. As Hozier mentioned in a backstage interview at the Osheaga Festival, it’s a “song about not wanting to end up in destructive systems, or systems that are inherently destructive that are very, very hard to not find ourselves within.”
Hozier spoke on such systems during his headlining set at the Lollapalooza on August 1st, taking a moment before “Nina Cried Power” to passionately call for a ceasefire in Gaza. This wouldn’t be the first time the artist has spoken out “in support of peace and safety and security,” and surely won’t be the last.
“As a man from a country whose peace process came about due to the investment of the United States, something I'm very, very grateful for, I strongly urge you to, I strongly encourage you to reach out to your representation.”
Over the next few days, Hozier would make equally as stirring appearances at the Hinterland and Osheaga Festivals, taking the stage each night in some form of his usual triple-C combo: Canadian tuxedo, Chelsea boots and cascading locks.
Each festival’s setlist was a combination of fan favorites and Unreal Unearth highlights. Songs like “Eat Your Young,” “De Selby (Part 2)” and “Francesca” were must-play regulars at all three stops. Stuck-in-your head ear-worms like “Take Me To Church” and “Too Sweet” inevitably find their way onto all of Hozier’s setlists these days. And though “Nobody’s Soldier” made its way into all three performances, fans at Hinterland were in for a particularly special show, as the artist performed yet another unreleased track, “July,” which he had teased only days before.
After his festival performances, Hozier took to his socials to announce the August 16th release of his second post-album EP Unaired. Much like the Unheard EP released earlier this year, “Unaired” features Unreal Unearth outtakes, including “July,” “Nobody’s Soldier” and “That You Are,” the latter of which was co-written and performed with the LA-based singer-songwriter Bedouine. If the fan response to the latest live debuts is any signifier, “Nobody’s Soldier” may very well be Hozier’s next chart-topping sensation.
Pre-save Unaired here.
Catch Hozier on the Unreal Unearth Tour
08/07 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
08/09 - Tulsa, OK @ Azura Amphitheater
08/10 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
08/13 - St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
08/14 - Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
08/16 - Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field
08/17 - Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
08/20 - Winnipeg, Canada @ Canada Life Centre
08/21 - Saskatoon, Canada @ Sasktel Centre
08/23 - Calgary, Canada @ Scotiabank Saddledome
08/24 - Edmonton, Canada @ Rodgers Place
08/27 - Billings, MT @ First Interstate Arena
08/28 - Casper, WY @ Ford Wyoming Center
08/30 - Greenwood, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheater
08/31 - West Valley City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/03 - Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Arena
09/04 - Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphteater
09/06 - Quincy, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre
09/07 - Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
09/09 - Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
09/10 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
09/13 - Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Arena
09/14 - Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/17 - Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
09/18 - Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
09/20 - Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
09/21 - Las Vega, NV @ iHeartRadio Music Festival
09/22 - Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
09/24 - San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center
09/25 - The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
09/26 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
09/28 - Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
09/29 - Columbia, MD @ All Things Go 2024
11/05 - Perth, Australia @ RAC Arena
11/06 - Perth, Australia @ RAC Arena
11/08 - North Adelaide, Australia @ The Drive Adelaide
11/10 - Torquay, Australia @ Torquay Common
11/12 - Melbourne, Australia @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
11/13 - Melbourne, Australia @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
11/15 - Sydney, Australia @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
11/16 - Pokolbin, Australia @ Roche Estate
11/18 - Brisbane City, Australia @ Riverstage
11/20 - Auckland, New Zealand @ Spark Arena
11/22 - Christchurch, New Zealand @ Wolfbrook Arena
11/23 - Christchurch, New Zealand @ Wolfbrook Arena
