Hozier & Allison Russell – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Camden (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Hozier & Allison Russell – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Camden, NJ – May 25, 2024

Hozier Takes Fans to Church.

Following the release of his newest album Unreal Unearth, Hozier kicked off his 2024 Tour playing cities across the US including Houston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Camden, where we were lucky enough to catch the show. Fans traveled from states away to attend the show and after being there, I understand why.

The night began with an enchanting performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell, who has worked with Hozier on several occasions. Russell’s performance was raw, soulful, and spiritual all in one, mesmerizing all 25,000 attendees. An opening act rarely has an impact on an audience, but Russell was one of the few who beat those odds. Fans were just as tuned into her set as they were Hozier’s, which was beautiful to see. Luckily for attendees, the end of Russell’s set was not the last we would be seeing her that night – she came out later to sing “Wildflower and Barley” alongside Hozier. Her performance was absolutely incredible.

When Hozier finally took the stage, the arena shook with anticipation. The lights began to dim, and the buzz of fans grew louder and louder until all anyone could hear was the opening notes to “De-Selby (Part 1).” Though the lights were dimmed, you could make out the silhouette of everyone’s favorite Irishman. The atmosphere grew even more electric when the stage lit up and Hozier’s powerful vocals filled the arena. Right off the bat, it was obvious that he has an amazing stage presence and knows how to connect with an audience. Hozier then went on to play fan favorites “Francesca,” “From Eden,” and “That Would I.”

Not only was the music at the concert magnificent but each song was accompanied by captivating backdrop visuals that coincided with a thematic stage setup, mimicking that of a forest. The visuals and production value were off the charts. With each song, came different colors and vibes, which made the performance that much more enthralling.

Throughout the evening, fans were sent through a whirlwind of emotions as Hozier took the audience through his catalog, mixing old songs with new ones. When he began playing “Too Sweet,” every single person in the venue jumped to their feet, ready to dance and scream the lyrics, and oh, they did. Up next was “Almost (Sweet Music)” which sent fans into a frenzy, as it is a fan-wide favorite. Every. Person. Knew all of the lyrics. It was such a beautiful thing to experience. Moments like this prove that music has the power to bring such a diverse group of people together, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

After performing his hit single “Take Me to Church,” Hozier disappeared from the stage for a few minutes. Fans anticipated his appearance for the encore on the main stage, but he surprised them by performing his last three songs on a b-stage in the middle of the stands. The encore included “Cherry Wine,” “Nina Cried Power,” and finally everyone’s favorite ballad “Work Song.” It is such a rarity to see artists connect with their supporters as much as Hozier does.

Hozier’s 2024 Unreal Unearth has made it to my list of must-see tours. Between his incredible catalog, unmatched stage presence, and stunning stage production, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not attending this tour. Not only would fans be satisfied with his impressive and cumulative setlist, but non-fans would have just as good of a time due to Hozier’s showmanship and talent. I’m not kidding when I say this is one of the shows of the summer.

Kayla Marra