Reading and Leeds 2025: Hozier calls for Palestine to be “free from occupation” during headline set
During his headline set at Reading Festival, Hozier used his set to call for Palestine to be “free from occupation”.
The Irish singer-songwriter topped the bill at Richfield Avenue, marking his first time as a headliner at the iconic British festival. His set followed performances from Chappell Roan, Bloc Party, and The Kooks, who Rebel Wilson joined to cover ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’.
Hozier used his stage at Reading to speak about crucial societal matters, telling those in attendance, “That right to vote, that we have, that democratic voice, that we have, like so many rights that we enjoy every single day, without even thinking about – rights of free Speech, workers rights, union rights, gay rights, women’s reproductive rights – it’s so easy to take these things for granted.”
Referring to Gaza, he called for “a meaningful political solution for the kind of violence we’ve been seeing on our TV screens over the last two years, and not lip service, but a meaningful peace process.”
Hozier also called out hate in all forms, saying that people “wouldn’t want to see their neighbours live in fear of hatred or racism”, before adding, they “wouldn’t want to see their Jewish friends live in the fear of anti-Semitism, and Muslim brothers and sisters live in the fear of Islamophobia. They want to see their members of the LGBTQ community treated with respect and dignity, and peace.”
The ‘Take Me To Church’ singer continued: “Safety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation, that’s free from these cycles of genocide and violence, ethnic cleansing, and it means seeing a Palestine that’s free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood.”
He then seemingly referred to the recent proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, stating, “I know I don’t need to tell you that spray painting an aeroplane does not constitute an act of terrorism, or supporting the people who do does not constitute an act of terrorism.”
Hozier then expressed support for Kneecap after Mo Chara was charged with a terror offence in May, adding, “Or indeed. Irish musicians rapping or supporting the people of Palestine is not an act of terrorism either. Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, DJ Provai, you know ’em.”
The Irish musician concluded by passionately saying: “Use your voice, use your kind power, use your vote in any way from that place of empathy and compassion to support peace and safety and security and free policy.”
Reading Festival is set to continue on August 23rd with Travis Scott set to headline. The ‘Goosebumps’ rapper cut his set early at Leeds Festival last night after only 55 minutes.
See Hozier’s speech in full below.
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