The word was when The Smile played St. Augustine’s Amphitheatre during June of 2023, iconic vocalist-guitarist Thom Yorke was impressed by the intimate shed, which has a capacity of 4,700, and charmed by America’s oldest city.
There is no amphitheatre in the country that’s quite like the venue known as “The Amp,” which has fantastic sightlines and acoustics. It’s no surprise that Pollstar Magazine, the leading concert-industry publication, ranked the Amphitheater second in the United States and third in the world among sheds in 2019.
The folks who operate the well-run facility are presenting the ninth annual Sing Out Loud Festival, which features some heavy hitters Saturday and Sunday at Francis Field.
Hozier, who captivated while headlining Asbury Park’s terrific Sea.Hear.Now Festival last weekend, will close Sing Out Loud Sunday.
The Irish icon born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne led a sing-a-long with 35,000 fans on the Asbury Park beach during his signature song “Take Me to Church” and his potent “Nina Cried Power.”
Prior to the latter Hozier waxed in a manner that recalled his fellow countryman Bono. “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,” Hozier said about the state of free speech, marriage equality and voting rights.
Expect Hozier to be even more vocal while performing in the Sunshine State. Part of the 35-year-old’s appeal, much like Bono, is that he’s a humble guy. Hozier noted how surprised he was when “Take Me to Church,” blew up and led to a recording contract and a 2015 Grammy nomination.
“I couldn’t believe how that song took off,” Hozier told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay while calling from Los Angeles. “But then again I don’t believe in a lot of things.”
What Hozier means is that he doesn’t believe the hype. After his eponymous album was released in 2014 it went straight to the top of the charts in Ireland and made noise in America.
“I think the thing about being Irish is that you don’t believe your own bullcrap,” Hozier said. “When the going is good, you don’t buy what all these people are blowing up your butt.”
Hozier points to U2, who have mastered taking the air out of the hype machine.
“They couldn’t have accomplished what they have if they bought into what people say,” Hozier said. “Believe it or not Bono is still a regular guy. All I want is to be that and make music.”
Hozier took a hiatus after his initial tour. He didn’t care about keeping the momentum going.
“When the tour ended I needed to decompress,” Hozier recalled. “I went to the Irish countryside for a year just to live life. I caught up with friends and family. I went swimming in the sea and cleared my head.”
That places Hozier in the minority since most of his peers, who have tasted success, continue to grind. “That’s just not me,” Hozier said.
Hozier tunes are typically poignant, sardonic and at times sensual. Hozier infuses a spirituality into his rock ala U2.
“You’re listening to what came from a blank canvas,” he said.
What appears on that canvas has attracted a large fan base. Hozier sold out amphitheaters throughout the country during his summer tour, which made a stop in Tampa, where Allison Russell opened.
Hozier isn’t the only outspoken recording artist on the Sing Out Loud bill. Singer-songwriter Maren Morris, who performs Saturday, has never been shy about expressing her opinion. When fellow country star Morgan Wallen uttered a racial slur on a video in 2021, Morris called him out. That wasn’t surprising since Morris praised several Black country recording artists, such as Mickey Guyton, Linda Martell and Brittney Spencer, during her CMA Awards acceptance speech in 2020.
“The bones of country music are connected to Black people,” Morris said while calling from Indianapolis. “It’s a historical fact. The banjo is a West African instrument. How can we not support so many amazing country artists who are Black?”
Morris, 35, is touring behind her latest album, Dreamsicle, which features some eclectic pop gems. It’s a logical progression from Morris’ excellent country-pop release Humble Quest, which dropped in 2022 and was inspired by the birth of her first child and the pandemic.
“All of my songs are personal,” Morris told CL. “So much came out of the birth of my son, who was born just days after everything changed then (in the middle of March 2020). The whole world was shutting down as I was going into labor. I didn’t get the gravity of the situation during one of the biggest moments of my life. It was pretty eerie being the only person on the floor giving birth the night Hayes arrived. That had a huge impact on me.”
Morris is an engaging live performer. Perhaps if Morris hangs around, perhaps she and Hozier will duet with their 2019 song “The Bones,” at Sing Out Loud.
There are a number of other recording artists worth catching on the solid Sing Out Loud bill. Rilo Kiley is on its first tour since 2008 and the venerable band is pleasing ardent fans by delivering a number of deep cuts.
Beabadoobee was born after the turn of the century but her music has been impacted by such ’90s icons as Sonic Youth and Pavement. Speaking of the latter, her catchy cut “I Wish I was Stephen Malkmus,” is an all-time great homage track. Clever Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy and the eccentric and amusing Father John Misty are other reasons to trek to north Florida for a tune-filled weekend.
It’s been an impressive run for “Sing Out Loud,” which commenced in 2016. Expect a huge festival as SOL marks its 10th anniversary next year.
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This article appears in Sept. 18-24, 2025.