Hozier’s only been around — at least in the public consciousness — for a little over 10 years. But he’s already made some history.
The singer-songwriter born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne enjoyed his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in April with “Too Sweet,” from his latest EP “Unheard.” That made him the first Irish act to top the chart since the late Sinead O’Connor’s version of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U” during the same week in 1990 (when Hozier was just one month old, by the way). It’s also the first No. 1 hit by an Irish male performer since Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)” in 1974.
Hozier’s no stranger to the charts — his first single, 2013’s “Take Me to Church,” hit No. 2 in the U.K., Ireland and the U.S., where it was certified 13-times platinum. “Too Sweet” is his first return to the Billboard upper echelons since, but Hozier, 34, says via Zoom that kind of success is welcome but not intentional.
“I’ve tried very hard to separate myself from or free myself from exceptions of how other people hear the music or will receive the music or come to the music,” he explains. “I just trust that I’ve tried to write music, especially for this album but all the time, that resonates with me, that feels honest to me, that feels worthwhile in the moment of its making.
“I hope that people feel the same. That would be wonderful. But I try to free myself from thinking too hard or having too many expectations.”
“Too Sweet” and the other three songs on the “Unheard” EP — which also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — were tracks Hozier wrote and recorded while making his third album, 2023’s “Unreal Unearth.” He’s partial to the full-length as an art form, but said he’s pleased with whatever way his music is heard.
“I feel very at peace with people just coming in and finding a song, whether they find it on a playlist or a digital streaming platform or while they’re listening to the album,” he explains. “I feel like each song stands on its own in some way, and they’re also a reference point to the (whole) album. It’s there to scratch away at if they want to. If not, that’s totally fine, too.”
Hozier and Allison Russell perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 31 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include…
FRIDAY, MAY 31
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Jader Bignamini conducts pieces by Strauss and Khachaturian at 8 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Saturday’s concert will be streamed free via the “Live From Orchestra Hall” series. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• The Voices of the Streets Summer Kickoff features Moneybagg Yo, Rob 49, Skilla Baby and JT at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Country singer Ashley McBryde brings her The Devil I Know Tour to the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
• Veteran troupe Bulletboys rocks at 7:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Gretchen Gonzales, Chris Peters, Dave Hurley, Pete Larson and Warren Defever perform at 6 p.m. for the opening of Leon Dickey’s new art show “Voyage” at the Metropolitan Museum of Design Detroit, 905 Henry St. The exhibition is open through July 6. 248-763-8581 or mm-o-dd.org.
• Louisiana rapper Autumn! bring his Roi De Tout Tour to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Guitarist Gareth Pearson, known as “The Welsh Tornado,” plays at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Bulletproof, King Norman, Faded and more perform at the Michigan Music Fest at 6 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• The Paxton Spangler Band is in-house through Saturday, June 1 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The trio Spare Parts plays through Saturday, June 1 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Chirp and Dizgo, along with Spaceship Earth, team up at 8 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• That Arena Rock Show plays hits of yesteryear at 8 p.m. at the Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• The Prism Men’s Chorus is back for an 8 p.m. show at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• The Boreouts top a four-band bill at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 3130873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Adrian + Meredith play at 8 p.m., with Colin O’Brien opening, at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• Classic rock covers specialist Mike Masse performs at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• A week after headlining at Detroit’s Saint Andrew’s Hall, X Ambassadors livestreams its performance at 9:30 p.m. from New York City. Tickets via veeps.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
• Grammy Award nominee Justin Roberts plays a family-friendly show at 11 a.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• The Tied Down Detroit Festival runs through Sunday, June 2, with multiple stages at the Russell Industrial Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit. 313-872-0358 or thecrofoot.com.
• Glass Beams comes from a land Down Under to play at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• A dozen female-fronted bands — including Forge the Sun, Storm Theory and Wisher — play at Femme Fest 2 at 5 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Snarls comes north from Columbus, Ohio, to rock at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Toronto’s Wine Lips plays with Toeheads and TY at 9 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Guitar hero Jim McCarty and his band Mystery Train roll at 8 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Rock ‘n’ roll coffin kickers Nekromantix plays for all ages at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 3130873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Singer-songwriter Jason Harrod is joined by Charlie and Sherry Springer at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Cure tribute band Re-Cure returns to the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Dearborn Youth Voices performs a free show at 7 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. 313-943-2354 or dearborntheater.com.
• Lizzie No brings her voice, guitars and, yes, harp to town at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson livestreams his solo concert at 11 p.m. from Mexico City, and it will remain available for three days after. Tickets via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
• The Rock and Roll Prep School showcases developing talents at 3 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• R&B stalwart Tank performs at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
• Winger heads for a heartbreak at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• Ontario hard rockers Autumn Kings stop at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Florida’s Death to All and Cryptopsy rattle the walls at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Pianist William Hill and his 111 Trio play at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Blvck Hippie from Memphis headlines at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Brooklyn headbangers Liturgy top the bill at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Vermin Womb, Sissy Spacek and Body Void also perform. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Wanted and Faded & Savetta rock at the Pike Room in the Crofoot complex, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
• Don Dylan provides “The Bob Dylan Experience” at 7:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• The Cadillac Cowboys saddle up at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
