Friday night came alive as Florence + The Machine took the stage at Manchester Arena, sending an electric pulse through the sold-out crowd.
The stage was bathed in an amber glow, casting shadows across the minimalist wooden set as the band settled into position. Then, with her signature ethereal grace, Florence Welch floated barefoot to the mic, her haunting vocals filling the arena with the opening track, ‘June.’
More than just a front woman, Welch commanded the stage like a conductor, her entire body bringing the music to life. The crowd eagerly followed her lead, rising to their feet as she launched into the hit single ‘Hunger,’ and she playfully invited those still seated to join her in dancing to ‘Between Two Lungs.’
Despite her commanding stage presence, Welch’s vulnerability shone through in quieter moments. After twirling across the stage with effortless elegance, she humbly admitted, “I can sing and dance, but struggle to speak to one person a day.” This honest confession only deepened the audience’s connection to her.
Grateful for the energy Manchester offered after a long tour, Welch touched on the resilience of the city, referencing the Manchester Arena bombing with a poignant message: “It may not seem like it’s making a difference, but keep showing up. Do the small things because hope is an action.”
As she introduced ‘Dog Days Are Over,’ she made a heartfelt request for fans to put their phones away, urging them to live in the moment: “It’s something just for you, Manchester.” What might seem like a gimmick at other gigs felt genuinely magical here. By the end of the song, strangers were embracing, united in the experience.
Phones were soon welcomed back, lighting up the arena like a galaxy of stars during ‘Cosmic Love.’ Welch then stormed the aisles during ‘Delilah,’ giving fans at the back a close-up view of her boundless energy.
The show’s core closed with an explosive rendition of ‘What Kind of Man,’ as Welch dramatically grabbed male members of the audience by the head in a symbolic, almost cleansing gesture. It was as if she were exorcising any trace of toxic masculinity, making it clear that a Florence + The Machine audience is one of acceptance and unity.
The encore brought Welch to her knees during ‘Big God,’ before she turned the entire crowd into her choir for ‘Shake It Out.’
Powerful and moving—these are the words that best describe Florence + The Machine’s performance. As fans streamed out of the arena, the looks on their faces said it all: they hadn’t just attended a concert, they had experienced something transformative.
