Irish musician Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known as simply Hozier, returned to the DMV recently for a sold-out date on his Unreal Unearth Tour.
Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show!
The following article is adapted from a press release.
Due to remarkable demand across the USA and Canada, Hozier added 14 new shows to his most extensive headlining run in North America – The Unreal Unearth Tour – signaling an incredibly momentous touring year for the award-winning, RIAA-Diamond certified singer/songwriter.
On May 17, Hozier visited Merriweather Post Pavilion for a sold-out show with opener Allison Russell.
Hozier has continued to hook audiences worldwide with his provocative, energetic, and organic live performances that span his extensive decade-long catalog of hits. He has stayed true to his ethos as his shows have grown into larger venues, continuing to draw inspiration from performing entirely live with his expanding band. Hozier’s unique connection with his audience has grown more apparent over the years and stems from the enduring intimate nature of his shows.
His dedicated following of die-hard fans quickly showed their enthusiasm for his third studio album, Unreal Unearth, learning the lyrics to the songs through his live performances and singing along to every word prior to the release. Released August 18 via Columbia Records, the 16-track LP debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and follows a captivating thematic arc informed by the turbulence of the world and the fight for a better and brighter tomorrow.
Unreal Unearth received both fan and critical acclaim, landing on various year-end lists with Rolling Stone, Billboard, Esquire, American Songwriter and more naming it one of the Best Albums of 2023.
Watch the official music video for “Too Sweet” by Hozier on YouTube:
Hozier finds harmony and melody in the midst of chaos. The Grammy Award-nominated Diamond-certified Irish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist tunes into raw blues spirit, unrestrained soul, rock energy, and folk eloquence.
At 22, he delivered a generational anthem in the form of “Take Me To Church.” It reached 13x-Platinum status and earned a rare Diamond certification from the RIAA, climbed to the No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, became one of the Top 30 “Most-Streamed Songs on Spotify,” and notched a Grammy Award nomination in the category of “Song of the Year.”
It paved the way for his 2014 full-length debut, Hozier, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and went double-Platinum. The 2019 Gold-certified follow-up, Wasteland, Baby!, bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Platinum single “Almost (Sweet Music)” as well as “Would That I,” which has been the featured sound of recent viral trends on TikTok.
At Merriweather Post Pavilion, Allison Russell joined Hozier in the middle of his set for a performance of “Wildflower and Barley” and again in the encore for “Work Song.”
Here are some photos of Hozier performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 17, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
And here are some photos of Allison Russell opening Hozier at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 17, 2024. All pictures again copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
