To say Bray's favourite son has had a big 2019 is putting it lightly. Wasteland, Baby! put fears of a sophomore album curse to bed by shooting to the No.1 position in the US - while also dominating charts at home and around the world. The project followed on from Hozier's 2018 EP Nina Cried Power, and his lauded self-titled debut, released back in 2014.

Speaking to Hot Press' Stuart Clark earlier this year, Hozier claimed that he considers Wasteland, Baby! an !end of the world record" rather than a "falling in love album."

"I characterise it as 'a squeeze of the hand'" he elaborated. "There are certain songs that are dealing with a storm raging outside and possibly the end times. It's always trying to do it through the personal, hence that squeeze of the hand. There are definitely reflections on love ... but I write from memory. Sadly, I kind of hermit-ed myself away when I was making the album. I didn't have anybody to curl up to"

Since shooting to international attention after the runaway success of 2013's socially-conscious single 'Take Me A Church', Hozier hasn't shied away from the political side of life. Most recently, he encouraged fans in Alabama to follow in Ireland's footsteps in campaigning against the state's repressive abortion ban.

Set to be one of Cork's top concerts this summer, you can expect Hozier's Irish Independent Park gig to be packed with hits from his recent release, as well as plenty of fan favourites from his debut. After Cork, the Bray singer-songwriter will hit up the Belsonic stage at Belfast's Ormeau Park, before jetting off to sets at Glastonbury, Lollapalooza and more major international festivals. But don't worry: he'll be back to blow us away all over again at Electric Picnic before we know it...

Hozier is playing his sold out show at the Irish Independent Park, Cork tonight.