This was previously published in our October 2025 issue. 

From the unearthly power of Hozier’s vocals to the “Movement” of the crowd, Sept. 19 was a fiery evening in Hershey Park Stadium. Hozier, an Irish indie rock singer-songwriter performed for more than 16,000 people on the 82nd show of his “Unreal Unearth” Tour extension. 

Opening with “De Selby (Part 1),” Hozier guided the crowd through a night-long journey of self-discovery and activism through music. His every note grasped at the audience’s psyches, further encouraging self-surrender. 

A few songs after, Hozier sang “Eat Your Young” and used the staging as an educational platform. During the song, he projected statistics related to the global military budget and displacement of children due to conflict. 

Soon after, Hozier referenced Inferno, part of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, as a main inspiration for several tracks on the “Unreal Unearth” album. The first of the three books of The Divine Comedy, The Inferno is an epic poem following one man’s travels through the circles of hell along with intense themes of self-reflection and self-sacrifice. Through this, Hozier explained how he approaches his music as telling a story through a different form of artistry, deepening the appreciation for one track in particular, “Francesca.” 

Upon hearing the first line of “Francesca,” the audience fell into a state of emotional vulnerability, and many shed tears. Hozier’s ability to spark emotion and share earth-shattering lessons through songwriting is as smooth as “Cherry Wine.” While performing “Nina Cried Power,” Hozier acknowledged the importance of musical advocacy, calling attention to similar artists such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and John Lennon. 

Having embarked on such an impactful evening with Hozier, the crowd harmonized with the importance of advocacy and music as a whole.