SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™ SET TO PREMIERE

HOZIER: THE CHURCH TAPES
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 AT 10 PM ET/PT

SPECIAL FEATURING GRAMMY^® AWARD NOMINEE PERFORMING AN INTIMATE SET IN THE LEGENDARY ST. JAMES' CHURCH IN DINGLE, IRELAND

New York, October 21, 2015 – Grammy nominee Hozier opens up about his meteoric rise to superstardom, as well as his musical influences in the new Smithsonian Channel special, HOZIER: THE CHURCH TAPES, premiering Friday, November 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The one-hour program also features Hozier performing an intimate set in front of less than a hundred people at the Other Voices Festival in the legendary St. James Church situated in the spectacular seaside town of Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Featuring Hozier’s first ever television appearance when it was filmed, HOZIER: THE CHURCH TAPES includes exclusive interview footage with the unique and talented artist, who taught himself how to play guitar and piano at 15. With stripped-down versions of "Work Song," "From Eden," and his massive hit, "Take Me To Church," Hozier delivers a performance that is both somber and sunny, low-key and high-powered, and uniquely his own.  

“Take Me To Church'' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2015 and won the Ivor Novello and multiple Billboard Awards. The song went to number two in the U.S. and the U.K., a feat matched by his debut album which is currently enjoying worldwide success. Hozier has been nominated for “Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock” at this year’s American Music Awards^®, which will be presented on November 22.

 Although his career is young, his musical roots and influences span many generations, and genres, creating a unique sound that is a triumphant union of blues, folk, gospel, and soul. Said Hozier, “Blues is the music that’s closest to my heart. All of my influences are blues and African American music. John Lee Hooker. Muddy Waters.” Speaking on his somewhat sudden success Hozier says that “It’s been crazy. Things took off in a way I never could have expected.”

HOZIER: THE CHURCH TAPES is produced by South Wind Blows Ltd. Executive producer is Philip King and producer is Tina O'Reilly. Joy Galane and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms.  Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME^® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network’s offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Boomtowners, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.

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