Hozier at CMAC is one of those pairings that makes you wonder why it did not happen sooner. The Irish singer-songwriter’s atmospheric, soul-inflected sound — all deep voice, layered guitars, and lyrics that read like poetry — is tailor-made for an outdoor amphitheater nestled in the Finger Lakes wine country. On an August evening with the sun setting behind the tree line and the air carrying the warmth of a lake-effect summer, this show will be something close to transcendent.
CMAC’s 10,000-pavilion-plus-lawn capacity hits the sweet spot for Hozier’s current touring level. He is big enough to headline arenas but chooses amphitheaters when the routing allows it, because the outdoor setting complements his music in ways that indoor rooms cannot replicate. The Canandaigua venue’s natural bowl acoustics will handle his dynamic range beautifully — from the quiet, almost hymn-like passages to the full-band crescendos that make crowds lose their minds.
If you are planning a Finger Lakes weekend around a concert, this is the one. Wine trail by day, Hozier at CMAC by night. The venue is a short drive from dozens of wineries and restaurants along the lake, and the combination of world-class music and world-class scenery is hard to beat anywhere in upstate New York.