full recap.
My friend and I got there with what we thought was plenty of time, but we ended up missing part of Madison Cunningham’s opening set. From what we did catch, she sounded incredible and set the tone for the night. We were lucky to have row 2 tickets for Hozier’s Red Rocks show, so once we found our seats, we had a clear view of the stage with no obstructions.
Hozier live at Red Rocks opened with De Selby (Part 1) and moved through a mix of songs from Unreal Unearth and older favorites like From Eden, Cherry Wine, and Jackie and Wilson. Eat Your Young stood out live, especially with the lighting that shifted throughout the song. Francesca was probably my favorite performance of the night. It felt massive live, with the band and vocals building perfectly from start to finish.
There were great visuals projected onto the rocks throughout the set that tied beautifully into the Unreal Unearth album artwork, giving the whole show a cohesive and cinematic feel without taking away from the music. The Unreal Unearth tour visuals really brought the songs to life in a way that felt intentional and immersive.
The backup singers were incredible, each of them bringing a ton of energy and power to the performance. At one point, Hozier mentioned that one of them was actually from Colorado, which got a big reaction from the crowd. Before Nina Cried Power, he talked about Mavis Staples and how much she inspired the song. The way he spoke about her felt genuine and respectful, the kind of moment that sticks with you.
He also made a quick joke about the altitude and “Colorado mountain people,” saying he was still catching his breath while everyone else seemed fine. It got a big laugh and made the night feel even more personal.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre never disappoints, and this night was no exception. The sound, the visuals, and the band’s chemistry made for a memorable show. It didn’t feel over the top, just a really great night of live music from start to finish.
Setlist from Setlist.fm
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