Hozier Review: Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

Hozier’s Soul-Stirring Set Cut Short at Minnesota Yacht Club 2025

Dark clouds gathered over Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul on July 18, 2025, but that didn’t dim the magic as Hozier headlined day one of the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. With a crowd of about 40,000 swaying under a threatening sky, the Irish troubadour wove his spell of bluesy folk-soul, his baritone voice rising like a prayer against the gathering storm. Guitars hummed, harmonies swelled, and for a fleeting hour, it felt like a communal hymn—until lightning forced an abrupt end. Fans lingered in the drizzle, hearts heavy, but buzzing from the intimacy Hozier conjured in the chaos. As one devotee posted online, it was “sacred, soulful, and spellbinding,” a beacon amid the festival’s high-octane lineup.

Andrew Hozier-Byrne, the Wicklow-born artist who simply goes by Hozier, emerged from Ireland’s indie scene in the early 2010s. A former choirboy and Trinity College music student, he honed his craft in Dublin pubs before self-releasing “Take Me to Church” in 2013—a raw, gospel-tinged takedown of hypocrisy that went viral. His 2014 eponymous debut album soared to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, blending R&B, blues, and folk into something profoundly human. Follow-ups like 2019’s Wasteland, Baby! and 2023’s ambitious Unreal Unearth—a concept album on climate and myth—cemented his status as a poet with a powerhouse voice. Now with millions of streams and a Grammy under his belt, Hozier’s music feels like a lifeline, turning personal ache into universal anthems.

For the 2025 leg of his Unreal Unearth Tour, Hozier surrounds himself with a tight-knit ensemble of multi-instrumentalists who amplify his intricate arrangements. The refreshed lineup brings fresh energy, blending seasoned collaborators with exciting new faces to capture the album’s earthy depth.

Band Members

• Hozier (Andrew Byrne) – lead vocals, guitar
• Amanda Brown – violin, backing vocals
• Jess – keys, backing vocals
• Camila – percussion, backing vocals
• Rory – drums
• Ryan – musical director
• Kellen – guitar

Hozier’s hits are timeless gut-punches, marrying poetic lyrics to hooks that linger. “Take Me to Church” remains his breakthrough, a No. 2 Hot 100 smash and multi-platinum staple decrying organized religion’s shadows. “Too Sweet,” from 2024’s Unreal Unearth deluxe edition, topped the charts with its wry indie-folk swing on mismatched love. Then there’s “Work Song,” the chain-gang gospel plea that’s become a live staple; “Jackie and Wilson,” a jubilant doo-wop nod to romance; “From Eden,” slinky and seductive; and “Eat Your Young,” a snarling eco-rant. Tracks like “Francesca” add layers of longing and lore, proving his catalog is a growing garden of emotional gold.

The set opened with the defiant “Nobody’s Soldier” from Unreal Unearth, Hozier’s voice cutting through the humid air like velvet thunder. He rolled into “Jackie and Wilson” with a grin, the crowd harmonizing on every “ooh-ooh,” then dove into the sultry “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene.” “Dinner & Diatribes” simmered with tension, “Eat Your Young” roared with urgency, and “Francesca” unfurled like a lover’s secret. But as “Work Song” crested in its soul-shaking climax, lightning cracked, and security pulled the plug. Hozier, visibly gutted, later shared on social media: “Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. My heart was breaking having to leave that stage…”

Verified Setlist

• Nobody’s Soldier
• Jackie and Wilson
• Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene
• Dinner & Diatribes
• Eat Your Young
• Francesca
• Like Real People Do
• From Eden
• Cherry Wine
• Unknown
• Work Song

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