Irish music star Hozier capped the opening day of the Sea Hear Now festival in Asbury Park with a night of big, bold gospel-inflected rock.
Hozier’s set delivered big rock riffs and spiritual uplifts that ended with his breakthrough hit, “Take Me to Church.”
He also delivered a big message to the 35,000 in the audience on the beach: remember your civil rights history.
“It’s important to remember just how much work had to be put in and how much it had to be fought for, and how easily they can be taken away,” said Hozier, citing the right to vote, workers rights, the right of free speech, women’s reproductive rights, gay rights and gay marriage rights.
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Hozier’s comments on civil rights took place before a performance of his song “Nina Cried Power.” He’s delivered similar comments while touring in support of his latest album, “Unreal Unearth.”
Hozier, born Andrew Hozier-Byrne, also spoke out against racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia.
“Peace and safety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation,” Hozier said. “It means seeing a Palestinian people who are free of the cycles of genocide and violence we see on our TV screens.”
Hozier performs during the festival. The Sea Hear Now surf, music, and art festival gets underway on the beach and boardwalk of Asbury Park. Saturday, September 13, 2025 Asbury Park, NJ
A Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 ignited a conflict between Isreal and the Palestinian people in Gaza that’s still ongoing.
Hozier cited the music and messages of Mavis Staples, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Nina Simone as strong supporters of civil rights.
“Mavis Staples, you may know, used to sing before speeches during the civil rights movement that took place here in the 1960s with her family, the Staples Singers,” Hozier said.
“It interested me as an Irishman that the civil rights movement that took place here in the 1960s directly inspired the civil rights movement that took place afterward in Northern Ireland, directly inspired it, which is something I would love for you to internalize and be very proud of,” he said.
More: Sea Hear Now 2025 in Asbury Park: Big crowd enjoys expanded festival grounds
Hozier performs at the festival.The Sea Hear Now surf, music, and art festival gets underway on the beach and boardwalk of Asbury Park. Saturday, September 13, 2025 Asbury Park, NJ
Hozier keyboardist Ryan Connors received a big round of applause at the show — he’s from New Jersey, Hozier noted. Connors is a native of Washington in Warren County.
The final day of Sea Hear Now on Sunday, Sept. 14 is scheduled to include sets from Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz, Public Enemy, Sublime and more on two stages on the North Beach and a stage in Bradley Park.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Hozier gives a civil rights history lesson at Sea Hear Now 2025
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