The summer solstice – midsummer, the longest day. It’s always fun when a gig falls on a significant date, and this one couldn’t have felt more fitting. In folklore it’s believed to be a day when magic is at its strongest, and who better to capitalise on that energy than Hozier. His lyricism steeped in myth and legend, his deep soulful vocals adding gravity to his words; his music feels like it expounds ancient wisdom already even without the added magic of the solstice. Fitting too as it’s a time associated with growth and vitality, a blessing for the harvest yet to come. As a special warm-up gig for his upcoming tour, exclusively for fans who preordered his upcoming album Unreal Unearth, it was a celebration of the bounty that summer’s end is set to bring.

Despite heading into Sheffield many hours before doors were due to open, a queue had already formed outside the venue. Keen fans, many looking very on theme with bright summer colours and adorned in flower crowns. Pre-show plans were scrapped in favour of grabbing a good spot, and given that the queue stretched further than the eye could see by the time it started moving, I think it was the right call. With so many people crammed into the venue on a midsummer’s day, the heat was nearly unbearable, and the water passed out by venue staff was an absolute godsend. Glad to be at a standing gig after seeing Hozier seated twice before, I managed to get a good spot near the front – and somehow still had a good spot after letting about a dozen shorter people stand in front of me (that karma will come back around someday!). 

After enjoying all the classic soul music in the pre-show playlist, and most certainly not enjoying the sweltering heat, the time finally came for opening act. Mega then took to the stage in a snazzy zebra print suit, with a warm smile and plenty of enthusiasm. Her vocals had a lot of passion behind them, feeling right at home backed by jaunty summer-ready rhythms. There was an unabashed feelgood vibe at work, and even tracks that dealt with heavy topics had a thread of positivity running through them. Sadly the set faltered in the lyrical department for me, with many hooks feeling too repetitive for me to connect with. 

One thing I was not prepared for, was this being far and away the loudest crowd I’ve ever been a part of. The scream that erupted when Hozier’s towering frame emerged from the shadows was almost deafening. For the first few tracks – the soulful ‘Eat Your Young’ and fan favourites ‘From Eden’ and ‘Jackie & Wilson’ – the band felt like they were fighting to be heard above the audience singing along. By the time they reached the alt rock fervour of his new single ‘Francesca’ however, it seemed like they had hit their stride and found the right balance. That high energy and hysteria never seemed to wane, which was both a blessing and a curse. The occasional over-enthusiasm felt a bit at odds with the tender folk of ‘Cherry Wine’, but it made ‘Take Me To Church’ feel fittingly like a fervent spiritual revival. 

I’ll admit I expected a few more sneak previews of the upcoming album than we got, but instead it was a setlist build on a rock solid foundation of fan favourites from his first two records. From the heavy blues stomp of ‘To Be Alone’ and the gorgeous gospel-infused sweetness of ‘Work Song’, to the dramatic slow build of ‘Movement’ and ‘Almost (Sweet Music)’s warm and honeyed love-letter to jazz. We did however get an early listen to new single ‘Unknown‘ a few days before release. Unable to sing along this time, the crowd instead stood enraptured. Against a cool, dreamy and minimalist arrangement, Hozier’s heavenly vocals were given a moment to shine; one which wasn’t wasted, as he delivered one of his most passionate performances to date with this haunting tale of heartbreak. 

The backing band were having the best time, smiling away at each other and sharing in jokes as they passed by when swapping places and instruments, and Hozier himself was a gentleman as ever. Not only thanking the crowd for their support at several points in the evening, but thanking every last crew member by name and leading us in singing happy birthday to one of the backing vocalists (celebratory shots all round on stage!).

Tradition states that many solstice celebrations are about keeping evil spirits at bay, and I’d say that Hozier soaring soulful performance and the ardent adoring crowd certainly kept that tradition alive. There’s always a nagging voice in the back of my head when I grab a ticket for someone I’ve already seen before, that maybe I’d be better seeing someone new for the first time, but no regrets here. The energy in that room, onstage and off, was on another level. If you plan on seeing Hozier on his next tour I can guarantee you’re in for a treat.